Poser over delay in Donggongon mart despite promise

Published on Daily Express: Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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Penampang: The State Government has been taken to task for the delay in rebuilding the market in Donggongon township here despite the promise by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman last year that it will be done quickly. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah, said he received many complaints, particularly from hawkers, who felt victimised by the inaction on the part of the Government. Without the market, the hawkers are now segregated and selling their goods at various areas around the burnt market.
However, many problems have since cropped up such as at the pork section, which was provided only a shelter and drainage but without water and electricity supply.
Since the stalls, which the hawkers claimed cost RM50,000, were located outside a building, the meat dried quickly under the hot sun and when they used ice cubes to cool it off, their customers complained that they were not selling fresh meat.
The hawkers claimed having to spend up to RM20 a day just to buy ice cubes or blocks.
Other hawkers selling vegetables and other products were placed at the tamu ground but forced to stop selling on Thursday and Friday because of the weekly Tamu hawkers using the area.
Another problem was theft and the hawkers had to employ security guards and pay them RM40 per night to watch over their goods.
Chong said all these problems would not have arisen if the Government did not dilly-dally on the rebuilding of the market.
"They don't want a super luxurious market, they only want a standard market with all the basic facilities in place. That's all. It is common knowledge that in every locality market is not something the local authority can bank on to make money.
"It is a liability but it is an important facility for the public," said Chong, who is former Penampang District Council deputy chairman.
The so-called temporary facility provided for the hawkers was totally inadequate "and even the UNHCR market is better than here," he said.
Chong urged all quarters concerned not to take advantage of the fire incident to make money.
"I was made to understand that many quarters in the BN are queuing up to get their hands on the project," he said.
Chong said the District Office had announced that the market would be rebuilt to a tune of RM1 million but until today nothing seemed to have been done.
"If this was a private company's property, it would have been completed by now lest the authority will take action against them. But what about the Government, who is going to take action against them for delaying works?" he asked.
The burnt market, Chong said, was also not properly fenced up and there had been reports of illegal immigrants using the premises to take drugs, while the metals there were also stolen.
"How long more will the people, especially the hawkers, have to suffer?" he asked.