New Sungai Merah market gets extra funding

SIBU: The new double-storey market centre, to replace the old one at Sungai Merah here which is currently 93 per cent completed, will have additional funding of RM3 million from the Premier’s Office.

According to the chairman of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Clarence Ting Ing Horth, the ‘Project Rakyat’ fund which was approved at the request of the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housng and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee will be coming next year.

“We hope the additional funding will come soon to complete the whole new market whereby the funding from the council is about RM5.5 million. So the total cost of completion is about RM8.5 million. We want to make the new market better.”Now, the additional funding is not available to un

dertake certain works which determines when we can open to the public. We will announce it later,” he told reporters after making an official visit to the new market site today (Dec 30).

Ting (centre) with other councillors pose for a photo in front of the newly constructed Sungai Merah centre.

Ting (left), Abdullah Izkandar (on his left) and others during the visit to the new market site.

Ting said the building of the new market centre which is to serve the increasing number of population in the surrounding area will have nine food stalls, 28 market stalls and 15 tamu stalls.

The construction work for the new market at the old market site which began in the middle of July last year is scheduled to be completed in 18 months’ time.

Certain elements of the old market with a history of 70 years have been retained, particularly the wooden “belian’ arch structure which has becomes its trademark.

Among those who accompanied Ting for the official visit were Deputy SMC chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Rosely, SMC market and petty traders standing committee chairman Simon Ling, Cr Augustine Merikan and Cr Yii Souk Ming.