Seri Kembangan market traders rue loss of income

The Star

a day ago

Traders at the temporary market site in Jalan SK6/1 complain of reduced business. — Photos: SAMUEL ONG/The Star
AFTER being relocated to a temporary site over two years ago, traders of Pasar Awam SK10 (SK10 Public Market) in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, are struggling to make ends meet.
Herb seller Ooi Kim Hock, 53, told StarMetro that customers kept away from their temporary trading site in Jalan SK6/1 due to insufficient parking space.
'My customers often have to park by the roadside and then get fined by Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) enforcement officers.
Ooi says his business has dropped by 70%. 'This has caused my business to drop by about 70% compared to when I was trading at the old market,' he said when met at the temporary site, located about 1.5km away from the old market at Jalan SK10/3.
Ooi also claimed that he had to pay higher rental at the new site, further burdening him financially.
Another trader, identified only as Yew Lian, said some stalls had gone out of business after the move to the temporary site.
'Four to five stalls shut down last year.
'I heard that four or five more are on the brink of shutting down.
'We have lost a lot of income due to the lack of parking space.
'My daily income is only about RM300, which is a 70% drop from what I used to make at the old market,' she said, adding that she sold poultry from 6am to 3pm daily.
It was previously reported that traders were relocated to the temporary site in April 2023 to allow the old market to be demolished and a new one to be built under a three-year project.
A visit by StarMetro on Tuesday found the old market site having overgrown grass and rubbish strewn around a partially torn-down structure.
There was no construction work seen at the site.
Pasar Awam SK10 in Jalan SK10/3 in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, is still being cordoned off without any redevelopment over the last two years.
A May 26 StarMetro article titled 'Markets potential for tourism as cultural landmarks', reported that 10 architectural firms had won prizes in a design competition held for SK10 Public Market that was set for a RM12mil redevelopment.
The competition was a joint effort between MBSJ and Malaysian Institute of Architects, with the winning firms to be appointed as consultants for the upgrading project.
The Federation of Association of Serdang general secretary Chuah Hooi Hong called for MBSJ to provide a clear schedule on the market upgrade.
'Months have passed since the results of the design competition were announced.
'When will the tender process start and how long will it take to finish the upgrade?
'The traders cannot wait any longer, they need to survive,' he said.
MBSJ had not responded to queries regarding the matter as at press time.