Feb 13, 2012
Freeze on new markets
THE Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has put on hold new applications submitted by village development and security committees (JKKK) and residents’ associations for new night markets this year.
Instead, it will focus in restoring and upgrading existing markets and also improving traffic flow at the places.
MPPP Public Health Standing Committee alternate chairman Ong Ah Teong said the council would process only applications submitted last year.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the City Hall, Ong said the move would give the council more time to look into problems affecting existing markets.
“They need improvement and upgrading. This include the structure of the stalls and the management of rubbish.
“We also want to address the concerns of residents in the areas where the night markets are operating. They are worried over the bad traffic situation,” he said.
Ong, who was giving a report on last year’s hawker interviews, said that out of 1,225 applicants who turned up for the interviews, 642 applicants were successful in obtaining their business licence.
They comprised 195 hawkers from markets, 274 from temporary hawker sites and 173 from complexes.
Ong added that as of 2011, there were 25 markets, 51 temporary hawker sites and 39 complexes as well as 36 night markets on the Penang island.
More property news:
|