Sabah Muafakat Market, state govt's sign of inclusivity to help Sabahans

JOHOR BARU: The construction of the Sabah Muafakat Market @ Johor is expected to boost the economic growth of the local community as well as become a new state tourism attraction in Johor.
The market, which houses 40 booths, including various public utilities, was built at a cost of RM2.1 million and is expected to be officiated by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin on March 17.
Persatuan Suluk Bersatu Sabah (PSBS) president Faisal Sisar, 36, said the market was built to provide facilities for the Sabahan community to carry out their business ventures highlighting diverse items and products made in Sabah.
"Previously they conducted their business activities along the roadsides in Seri Alam, so this market is built because of the state government's concern under the leadership of Johor Mentri Besar to provide equal opportunities to all in Johor.
"The Sabah Muafakat Market @ Johor is 100% aided by the state government and Barisan Nasional government and it does not focus on the Sabahan community alone but also local residents in the area," he told Bernama here today.
Faisal said the construction of the market could help to give business opportunities to the low income group to get out of poverty.
Through the Yayasan Pasir Gudang (YPG), the state government also provided ongoing assistance to single mother, disabled people and the poor among the Sabahan community.
"Besides aid from the Social Welfare Department, we also receive full cooperation from YPG which channels assistance to the needy while we send students to attend free community tuition classes provided by the state government," he said.
So far ,he said there are almost 30,000 Sabahans residing in Johor, concentrating in Pasir Gudang, Pengerang and Kota Tinggi areas.
He said most of the Sabahans who migrated to the peninsula was due to employment factors and Johor was among the states that offered jobs that promised lucrative returns.
Among them are manual labour in the Pasir Gudang industrial and manufacturing areas besides the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang.
The majority of the Sabahans live in low cost housing areas such as Seri Alam, Taman Rinting, Taman Scientex, Taman Mawar and Taman Cendana in Johor Bahru while some had been residing here for over 20 years, he said.
Meanwhile one of the stall recipients at the Sabah Muafakat Market @ Johor said it was a very meaningful assistance from the Johor Mentri Besar and BN government to the Sabahan community.
Zarrah Kodjaasan, who has resided in Johor for over 20 years, was very pleased with the opportunity given by the state government to conduct her trading despite being in her golden years.
"Before I trade on the roadside to raise my children and supplement my family income and this market will certainly provide me with the comfort as a trader and consumer," said the 62-year-old Sabahan woman.
Another beneficiary, Yusop Abdua, 40, said the people of Johor who want to search for food and products made in Sabah needed no longer to look further as the goods sold in the market were flown specially from Sabah.
"We have dry food, wet ingredients, Sabahan food, including products and crafts brought from Sabah. So people in the peninsula did not have to fly across the sea because all of these are available at this market," he added. — Bernama