‘Close ties between SMC, hawkers ensure success of Sibu Central Market’
SIBU: The success of the Sibu Central Market, touted as the country’s largest indoor market, can be attributed to the good cooperation between Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) and various local hawkers’ associations.
In stating this, SMC deputy chairperson Rogayah Jamain points out that SMC manages the market and to ensure the viability of such management, the council always works closely with the associations.
“I think they ( hawkers’ associations) have that sense of belonging. They take care of the central market just like it is their own – they even install CCTVs through their own initiative.
“To me, it is a blessing that we can work together,” she said in chairing a meeting between her staff and councillors and 20 delegates from Petaling Jaya City Council ( PJCC) at the Urban Transformation Centre ( UTC) here yesterday.
Earlier the visitors, led by PJCC director of waste management Lee Li Syhan, took a tour around Sibu Central Market to better understand its workings and management.
Adding on, Rogayah stressed that SMC would never control the associations – what it does, however, is to set requirements that the traders should meet and comply with.
“The SMC would award some services to the associations and to ensure the renewal of such services, they (traders) would have to meet our requirements,” she said.