Bintawa wet market, hawker centre renovations completed ahead of schedule

KUCHING (Oct 30): The renovation/upgrading works to Bintawa Wet Market and Bintawa Hawker Centre have been completed ahead of schedule.

The project, costing RM1.288 million, commenced on Aug 15 this year and was due for completion on Dec 14, but was finished one and a half months early by contractor Liscorp Services.

A delighted Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng attributed this achievement to the cooperation of all parties concerned.

“Even though the renovation works were in progress since August, we have put up canopies for the convenience of the traders and we have actually subsidised quite an substantial amount in sustaining all the infrastructure, electricity and rental and others,” he told reporters at the handing over of the completion of works to improve the Bintawa Wet Market and Hawker Centre today.

“What we want to see is a chain reaction that will be able to help the people, meaning that the prices are reasonable so that everyone can benefit from there.

“We do not want that while we are subsidising the rental and all that, you are charging the customers higher prices than any of the spaces you rent in the shophouses,” he said.

Wee said the council will put up tags for ‘reasonable stalls’ to help consumers identify those with fair prices.

“We have done this (renovation/upgrading) at Sungai Apong Wet Market, Kueh Siak Hong Hawker Centre and the next one we are going to improve is the Petanak Wet Market and Hawker Centre.

“We will also make improvements at other markets in the MBKS municipality and to traders/stall operators at other markets, please bear with us,” added Wee.

Good news for the traders and stall operators at the Bintawa Wet Market and Hawker Centre is that rental for the stalls will be waived until end of December this year.

The rental for the stall is RM233 for every four months. The Bintawa Wet Market and Bintawa Hawker Centre was built in 1994.

While making improvements to the wet markets, the mayor reminded the traders and operators not to set up any illegal structures.

“If you want to make any extension, please apply for it from the council,” he advised.

Wee said action has been taken against the owners of one residential house and one shophouse for making illegal extensions.