Bandar Sungai Long temporary market construction to start in January

WORK on the temporary market structure for Bandar Sungai Long in Kajang, Selangor is expected to start in January despite traders preferring a permanent one.

Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said the market construction at Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long in Jalan SL 2/3 was expected to be completed in June.

He said the contractor would start by building facilities such as toilets, management office and rubbish house.

The roof structure would be built after Chinese New Year to minimise disturbance to the traders, who were predominantly Chinese, he added.

“We are making the best out of the RM650,000 allocation from the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) for the temporary market structure.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the temporary market structure, he said the new structure would provide a more comfortable market environment.

The township never had a proper market complex and market traders have always operated from temporary sites.

At present, some 100 traders are trading from Persiaran SL 1 while another 100 have moved to Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long, the nearby site where the temporary market will be built.

In a bid to build a proper market for some 200 traders in the town, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) rezoned two plots of land for the market in 2021 and named it Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long.

Syahredzan says they will not force traders to move into the temporary market.However, plans to build the temporary market structure has divided traders, as highlighted in a StarMetro article on Dec 22 titled ‘Traders want roof over their heads’.

In the article, Persatuan Peniaga-peniaga Kecil Bandar Sungai Long chairman Fanny Lim Foong Kuan, representing traders from Persiaran SL 1 said the temporary market structure was a waste of money and that the fund was better used to improve the condition at their present site or saved for future permanent market project.

Syahredzan, however, rebutted this, adding that there were no concrete plans on a permanent market yet.

“We are trying to solve the problem in the present, using the fund that is in our hands.

“We are also not forcing any trader, including those operating along Persiaran SL 1, to move into the temporary market structure, but will continue to engage with them.

“If the market traders along Persiaran SL 1 want us to improve the road, it would be a separate matter that could be discussed,” he told StarMetro.

MPKj councillor Khoo Khim Han said the market would comprise a roof structure that would take up one third of the 0.46ha land, with the facilities in the surrounding area, and have some 30 parking bays.

“There will be 207 trading lots, measuring 1.21m x 1.82m each.

“The lots may not be enough for all traders. So, we plan to extend the trading area using makeshift canopies on the parking lot, if needed,” he said.

Khoo also said that they intend to look for more funds, to upgrade the infrastructure such as flooring and drainage, as well as connect electricity supply for the market.