Traders urge MBMB to improve Malacca transit market

MALACCA: Traders at the newly opened Transit Market on Jalan Fatimah, Bacang near here, have urged the Malacca Historic City Council (MBMB) to improve the facilities for traders and visitors.
A survey by Bernama today found that most of the retail units had begun operating since the market opened on Wednesday (Nov 1).
One of the dealers, Abdullah Jasis, 58, said overall, he was satisfied with his new shop except for certain necessary improvements for the convenience of visitors.
"The main problem is lack of parking space. If I'm not mistaken, about 100 traders have moved here, and almost half of the parking area is used by them.
"The visitors face difficulty in parking, whereas the traders want more people to come here," he told Bernama here.
Abdullah, who has been selling 'mee gunting' for the past five years, however, agreed that the location of the market was strategic.
Among other problems faced by traders, he said, were water stagnation, limited toilets, and non-availability of bus service to the market.
Bernama previously reported that 311 traders shifted in stages to the Transit Market as the old market was no longer safe due to instability of the structure.
Meanwhile, Ajis Jantan, 48, said he was a little disappointed that the management had not provided fans for the stalls at the dry market area.
"I've just been here for two days and the lack of fans has made it uncomfortable for traders and visitors ... I would like to request to the management to provide a fan for each stall," said the trader who has been selling traditional cakes at Malacca Central Market for more than ten years.
He cited other inconveniences such as limited number of toilets forcing some traders to walk some distance to access them.
"For me, toilets are a basic requirement, and here there are only two toilets," he said.
Greengrocer R. Chandran, 42 said business at the new location was better than before, and he was satisfied with the number of visitors to the market.
"The rent is affordable although it's still slightly higher than the old place and it is easier to unload items from the lorry," he said, disclosing that he had been a vegetable seller for 14 years.
He suggested that the management add a parking area at the back of the market for the convenience of traders and visitors. — Bernama