Sore with Sore market
Prima Setapak residents want empty land to be made into a field
RESIDENTS of Prima Setapak, Kuala Lumpur are not happy with the news of a Sore Market (evening market) to be built there.
The market, located some 100m away from the Genting Klang wet market would be sited on a piece of empty land that belongs to the Education Ministry.
Wangsa Majump Wee Choo Keong said he had received numerous complaints from residents of Prima Setapak and launched a signature campaign against the opening of the market.
During a campaign drive held at the wet market yesterday, Wee said residents were fearful that the market would cause noise pollution, increase in traffic woes and crime.
The Sore Market is scheduled to be launched tomorrow and will be operational daily from 2pm till 2am.
“The land has been rented out to the organisers who have already started registering traders for the market,” said Wee.
He claimed that the organisers had set up structures on the land although they had yet to receive approval from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (City Hall).
According to Wee, many schools nearby have applied to the Education Ministry to turn the piece of land into a field for their students who deprived of such a facility.
“The Government should consider turning it into a field or a playground for children and senior citizens to exercise and relax,” he said.
He added that he had already written to City Hall and was waiting for reply.
Wee advised businesmen interested in opening stalls at the Sore Market not to pay the deposit yet until DBKL had approved it.
The densely populated area with more than 10,000 residential units is also known for its parking problems due to the high number of restaurants and commercial businesses in the area.
However, the organiser of the Sore Market, Lau Kok Heng, 34, who was present at the site was unhappy with the negative reports that surfaced even before the opening.
“They are already saying the new market will cause congestion even before it starts. Instead of focusing on us, they should do something about the vehicles parked by the road causing problems for motorists,” said Lau.
He said traders were only trying to earn some money by putting up the stalls.
“With 1.6ha of land we can only put about 350 stalls so our customers can park within the empty land,” he said, adding that the presence of the police and Rela would deter crime.