Council to discuss Gunung Rapat market upgrade with traders today - The Star

April 30, 2010

THE Gunung Rapat wet market needs to be given a major facelift to attract more customers.

Ipoh Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim said the younger generation mostly prefer to shop at hypermarkets and supermarkets than wet markets.

“A new and tidier market is essential so that people, especially the younger people, will continue to go there,” he told reporters after chairing a council meeting here recently.

“We have about 300 people going to the market daily but the number can drop in future if the dilapidated building is not improved to be on par with the bigger markets,” he said.

Roshidi urged all market traders to be present at a dialogue session to discuss the matter at the Gunung Rapat Community Hall today.

He said the traders should not only think about their own welfare but that of the consumers as well.

“Those trading outside the market will also benefit from the new market as they will be under one roof,” he said.

Roshidi pointed out that the city council had identified two options for the traders to relocate if the refurbishment goes ahead.

Roshid said the city council would help traders with the relocation.

On another matter, Roshidi said Silver Fly’s flights to Medan had been temporarily stopped due to technical problems to their aeroplanes.

“Flights to Medan will not be interrupted as Riau Airlines will restart their services next month,” he said.

At a lucky draw held after the city council meeting, Roshidi drew 20 people who had paid their annual assessment tax without arrears.

Two Modenas Kriss motorcycles were given to the top two winners while the third-prize winner won a 42-inch LCD television set.