Takada market to continue operation at current location
TAWAU: The Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) will allow the Takada Sunday market and night market to continue at its current location temporarily with the two markets to be managed by TMC, beginning March 3.
Its president Alijus Sipil yesterday said the concession company responsible prior to this had been given notice of termination until March 2.
Alijus said the council did not intend to close any hawkers’ business but instead it was acting on verbal and written complaints from traders and the public, including findings that foreigners were given permission to operate at the night market by the appointed concessionaire.
He said TMC would screen the number of traders allowed to trade, and called on traders to give full cooperation to ensure that only Malaysians were allowed to do business at the lots.
Commenting on the relocation of the weekly markets to Sabindo, he said the proposed site was a new alternative that was believed to be able to accommodate up to 700 hawkers,while providing comfort to visitors.
However, he said the decision to shift the market site had not been finalized yet as it needed to be thoroughly studied.
Traders who have been operating at Takada since it was first started years ago have argued about the proposal to shift the location while business operators in Sabindo were against the Takada operators shifting to Sabindo.
Over the years, the Takada Sunday market had gain popularity from the locals but were subjected to complaints, especially for causing traffic congestion on Sundays.