Work together with MCC officials regularly, Saberkas Night market traders advised
MIRI: All 216 traders of Saberkas Night Market here are encouraged to meet and discuss with officials from Miri City Council ( MCC) regularly to ensure smooth upgrading works on their trading site.
In making this recommendation, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin stresses that this is vital to make sure that there would be no interruption to their trading activities during works on rebuilding the market.
“However, the traders must agree to move and trade at the temporary site, which is near to the present site. This is not only about making sure that the works would go on smoothly, but it is also about the issue of safety,” he told reporters during a site visit to the market on Sunday.
DuringarecentmeetingwithLee, Saberkas Night Market Traders Association chairman Abdul Rahman Jawawi represented the traders to voice out their concern about the losses that they had to incur due to a heavy thunderstorm, which struck the night market recently.
The storm did not only damage the canopies and selling goods – it also messed up the wiring system.
Met after the inspection yesterday, Lee said it would not be possible to conduct immediate repair works on the canopies, in that Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) had, in August last year, approved RM1.3 million for the upgrading and rebuilding of the market.
“Although the project is approved, there are still some technical issues that need to be ironed out with the SEDC.
“I myself will pursue the matter as the ( Saberkas night) market is one of the attractions not only for the locals, but also for the Bruneians,” said Lee, adding that the rebuilding and upgrading project would include the construction of permanent structural frames with spandex roofing and also ample parking lots for both the traders and the visitors.
On a separate subject, Abdul Rahman who also joined Lee’s team in the inspection yesterday, disclosed that theft and other petty crime cases at the market had been reduced, thanks to the presence of its safety and security committee.
“The committee, which was formed by the traders, has been able to minimise theft cases – specifically the stealing of gas cylinders and merchandise items – at the market. The committee members conduct patrols after operating hours,” he said.
However, the traders must agree to move and trade at the temporary site, which is near to the present site. This is not only about making sure that the works would go on smoothly, but it is also about the issue of safety. Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture