Relocation for traders as work to upgrade Kepayan Square starts
Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025
By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Ewon handing over a canopy to one of the traders at Kepayan Square - Kuskop Pic PENAMPANG: A total of 72 small traders from Kepayan Square began preparing for a temporary relocation this week, as construction work starts on long-awaited upgrade to the public market space. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the Government is taking steps to ensure that traders continue to earn a living while improvements are made to their work environment. At a handover ceremony on Tuesday, Ewon distributed canopies, tables and chairs to the affected traders, who will move to a temporary trading site nearby for the next few months. 'We want to ensure that even during this transition, their livelihood is protected,' he said. 'This is about providing a safer and more comfortable space for the community to trade in the long run.' The RM2.4 million upgrade is being jointly funded by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), City Hall (DBKK) and the Kapayan state constituency. KPKT and DBKK are each contributing RM1 million, while Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang is allocating RM400,000 from her constituency fund. Ewon said planning for the project started after he was elected Penampang MP in 2022, when he and Jannie visited the site with DBKK officials to assess its condition. 'What we saw back then was that the traders needed more than just shelter from the sun and rain. The space needed proper facilities, a roof, better flooring and proper drainage,' he said. He thanked Jannie for taking the lead in pushing for the project and raising the matter with the KPKT Minister Nga Kor Ming. 'This is a good example of what can happen when local and federal leaders work together,' he said. Jannie said the upgrade was something she had been pursuing since 2019, after hearing concerns directly from the traders. She said the location has always served more than just commercial purposes. 'This space is not just about business. It's a place where people meet, talk, share food and build connection. 'Once it has a proper roof and layout, it can serve the whole community during festive seasons, government programmes or even just a normal weekend,' she said. Also present were DBKK Deputy Director-General (Operations) Robert Lipon and local leaders involved in coordinating the relocation plan. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Ringgit extends gains vs dollar amid US rate cut talks
Published on: Tuesday, August 05, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 05, 2025 By: FMT Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit extended its gains to open higher against the US dollar today, as investor sentiment on risk assets rebounded amid talk of a possible US interest rate cut, an economist said. At 8am, the local note climbed to 4.2260/4.2395 against the greenback from yesterday's close of 4.2350/4.2385. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Rashid told Bernama that the US dollar slipped further as market participants continued to digest last Friday's weak labour market data, which bolstered the odds of a rate cut. 'It appears that emerging market currencies against the US dollar are in a sweet spot, as the Federal Reserve seems poised to cut its policy rate, perhaps at an accelerated pace, to demonstrate to markets that it is on top of the situation. 'The September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is likely to see a 25-basis-point rate cut,' he said. Afzanizam said the ringgit is expected to linger within a range of RM4.22 to RM4.23 against the US dollar, supported by the prevailing positive sentiment. Advertisement Meanwhile, the ringgit was mostly higher against other major currencies in early trade. It weakened against the Japanese yen to 2.8795/2.8889 from 2.8652/2.8677 on Monday, but strengthened against the British pound to 5.6197/5.6377 from 5.6296/5.6342, and edged higher against the euro at 4.8954/4.9110 from 4.8978/4.9018. The local unit was also mostly higher versus regional currencies. The ringgit rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.2841/3.2949 from Monday's close of 3.2878/3.2908, but slipped against the Thai baht to 13.0747/13.1229 from 13.0452/13.0616. It appreciated against the Philippine peso at 7.36/7.39 from 7.38/7.39 yesterday, and firmed against the Indonesian rupiah to 257.6/258.5 from 258.2/258.5. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Ginormous RM1t bill for small tariff cut
COMMENT | And so the cost of that reduction in tariff to 19 percent from 25 for Malaysian goods to the US is revealed as over US$240 billion - more than RM1 trillion - that's paying way too much for very little, leaving us gaping at the gigantic sacrifice made. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz enumerated the concessions: US$150 billion in purchases by multinational companies in Malaysia's semiconductor, aerospace, and data centre sectors over five years;
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Daily Express
Harder for illegal foreign fishing vessels
Published on: Tuesday, August 05, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 05, 2025 Text Size: Adnan (right) explaining the system to Mohamad Sabu. Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia has strengthened controls on foreign fishing vessels entering its waters through the Management System for the Entry of Foreign Fishing Vessels into Ports (e-PSM). Department of Fisheries Malaysia Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain said the digital system was developed in line with international standards and under Section 15(2) of the Fisheries Act 1985, aimed at combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. 'This system manages applications for foreign vessels to enter the country's ports, improves control efficiency and supports Malaysia's commitment against IUU fishing. Any foreign vessel must obtain approval from the Fisheries Department before being allowed to dock at national ports,' he said. Through e-PSM, vessel owners must submit applications including information on entry dates, destination ports and catch details for assessment and entry approval. He said failure to implement such controls would be seen as supporting IUU fishing. Advertisement Despite not yet ratifying the Port State Measures Agreement, Malaysia remains committed to complying with the requirements outlined in the international agreement. The system ensures entering vessels are not in the IUU category and controls fish species landings to prevent violations of international regulations, including prohibited fish or species under the CITES list. Applications are reviewed with international bodies including Australia, the European Union and regional organisations such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and Western Pacific Tuna Commission to verify vessel registration status. As of 2024-2025, a total of 20 foreign vessels have been approved to enter Malaysian ports, landing 550 metric tons of tuna and similar species at Penang Port. The launch ceremony was officiated by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohammad Sabu on Saturday. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
