Chowrasta market traders want rent and licensing fee waiver

GEORGE TOWN: Traders and hawkers want Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to waive their stall rents and licensing fees due to delays in the upgrading works of Chowrasta market.
Chicken seller Mustapha Kamal, 59, said since the project has been delayed since last year, a waiver should be considered by MBPP due to their businesses being affected.
"The upgrading work has long been overdue, it was suppose to be completed in March last year but till date the situation is the same", he told theSun when met at the market.
The RM13 million two-storey complex opened in 1963 is a popular shopping spot for locals and foreigners.
It has 219 units for vendors and 123 parking lots.
More than 100 traders and hawkers have been relocated outside the complex pending the upgrading works which is supposed to be fully completed in 31 March last year.
However due to some technical problem, the upgrading works were delayed causing hardship for the traders and hawkers.
Butcher Abdul Rashid Abdul Hamid, 47 hopes MBPP will look into their plight and waive their rents and licensing fees as they also find it hard getting customers to come to the temporary site.
He also wants the parking lots in the market to open as soon as possible as the fasting month is nearing and there will be lots of sales and activities.
It is understood that the upgrading works will be completed on Nov 30 this year.
Komtar assemblymen Teh Lai Heng said the traders' requests were reasonable and thus he would bring it up to the council together with the 100 signatures from those affected.
Several attempts to contact Penang Mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail at the time of writing has been futile.