KUCHING: Petra Jaya Hawkers Association is hoping to meet Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg soon to brief the latter on the progress of Metrocity N6 Youth Night Market as well as to discuss its future plans.
Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, who is patron of the association, said, “I have instructed the association to get the paperwork ready and we expect for the meeting to happen either at the end of this month or in the middle of January next year,” he said.
“From the meeting, we expect to seek an allocation from the chief minister because he has been assisting us since the early stages.”
He further stated that earlier this year, the association sought help from the chief minister on the need to relocate the market from the old venue (parking lot in Metrocity opposite the current location) to the current venue.
“He immediately approved an allocation of RM500,000 for the tar-sealing of this place,” he told New Sarawak Tribune after officiating at the 3rd anniversary celebration of the night market on Saturday.
Elaborating on the matter, Fazzrudin said the association planned to upgrade the existing night market and transform it into a garden-like night market with a recreational space for visitors.
This involves replacing the existing booths with containers as well as upgrading the whole place at a cost of about RM4 million.
“However, the association cannot proceed with that idea just yet because the current night market is sited on commercial land,” he said.
“That is why I am hoping that the state government can assist us by acquiring the land.
“However, the owner of the commercial land has put a price tag of RM5 million for an acre of land and the night market is occupying three acres of land which will amount to RM15 million,” he said.
Asked whether it was possible to relocate the night market to a new site, Fazzrudin replied, “Relocation is not a good option. It has to be here. Apart from that, we want to put the youth in the centre of the development of the industrial area here.”
The Metrocity N6 Youth Night Market has been in operation since October 2016. The incomes generated by the traders, who are mostly youth, range from RM200 to RM900 per night.
With about 300 vendors, Fazzrudin estimated that the projected sales value could reach up to RM1.8 million yearly.
Also present was the Petra Jaya Hawkers Association president Mohamad Khairuzie Bolhassan.
