MIRI: The Miri City Council (MCC) has assured traders at Tamu Kedayan that their interest remains the top priority with regard to the plan of rebuilding the market into one with a more modern concept.
Mayor Lawrence Lai said although the project was not under the council’s jurisdiction, it would still ensure that the temporary relocation of the traders be done properly and accordingly.
He also hoped that this assurance would dispel any misunderstanding that might arise due to miscommunications regarding the project.
According to MCC’s record, there are only 106 traders at Tamu Kedayan who have registered with the council, while the rest comprises those unlicensed ones.
“The development project is under SEDC (Sarawak Economic Development Corporation). The MCC acts only as a mediator between the traders, SEDC and Miri Bumiputera Traders Association (PBMS).
“MCC, through a series of meetings with SEDC and PBMS, has made its stand clear on the need to safeguard the welfare and interest of the traders (at Tamu Kedayan),” the mayor told reporters after chairing a full council meeting here yesterday.
According to Lai, two sites have been proposed as the temporarily location for the affected traders — a vacant lot next to Miri Tua Pek Kong Temple and another at KK Bookstore in Centrepoint Commercial Centre.
“However, we have yet to finalise (these locations) yet due to certain problems that need to be resolved first. For example, MCC needs to obtain the green light from a developer as part of the proposed site next to the temple overlaps with a private land.
“On the other hand, the other (proposed) site may experience traffic problem later on if we decided to move the traders there.
“Such exercise cannot be simply done without proper planning; otherwise it may cause nuisance not only to the council, but also to the traders and the public,” he said.
The proposal to rebuild Tamu Kedayan came about following the demolition of the old SEDC building at Jalan Orlander here to make way for a new four-storey commercial building.