Most hawkers unhappy with new location

TIME TO MOVE: Hawkers asked to  leave the old SEDC trading venue

LIMBANG: Most hawkers here are unhappy with being forced to move from the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) trading venue to a new location at Medan Bangkita under the Limbang District Council.

The hawkers complained yesterday that rent at the new location is too high and fewer chairs and tables are provided due to space constraints.
“We are saddened but what can we do?” lamented egg-seller Hii King Leng, who has been trading at the old SEDC venue for over a year.

“If we follow our hearts, we do not wish to be moved and we do not mean to go against the order, but Medan Bangkita is too small and congested, and this would affect our business,” he added.

He said bigger tables are necessary for them to display their goods and more space is also needed to be customer-friendly.
Lau called on the council to reconsider the issue in the interest of customers and hawkers.
Rice-seller Liza Tagal said the majority of hawkers are unhappy with Medan Bangkita as they can’t keep their stock there.

“For someone without a vehicle like me, it is a real burden to pack and transport things to another location, but we hawkers have to follow the rules and regulations as we are forced to accept them,” she said.

For Liza, the monthly rental of RM60 should be reduced to RM40 due to the smaller trading lots.
“It is quite expensive as there are smaller tables, and it is a smaller and uncomfortable place,” said Liza.

The hawkers have been instructed by the authorities to move more than once to temporary trading places and said they hoped to be located at a permanent venue.
They also called on the council to reconsider a casting of lots system as it would be difficult to constantly move their goods.

by Philip Kiew
March 2, 2010, Tuesday