THE Penang government, through the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), today has announced its plan to upgrade the hawker centre in Lebuh Kurau 5, Chai Leng Park in Perai.
MBSP mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad said the upgrading project of the hawker centre was expected to start in October this year at a cost of RM5 million.
“It will take about two years to be fully completed.
“Once completed, the hawker centre will be able to house more than 90 traders and also equipped with a food complex, toilets, grease traps and other facilities.
“Hawkers and traders will be placed at Dewan Serbaguna Chai Leng Park temporarily to conduct their businesses while waiting for the upgrading project to be completed.
“Thus, we hope that this upgrading project can run smoothly and be completed within the set timeline,” Azhar said in his speech during a briefing session with traders and hawkers at Dewan Serbaguna Chai Leng Park in Perai today.
Also joining the briefing session were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who is also the Perai assemblyman.
The session was held to inform related traders and hawkers from the hawker centre in Lebuh Kurau 5 about the good news and also to explain the details of the project.
Meanwhile, Chow said the upgrading project of the hawker centre is timely as the place is in a dilapidated condition and has been operating for more than 30 years.
“Hopefully, when the upgrading project is completed, it will not only benefit residents in Chai Leng Park only but also nearby areas in the central Seberang Perai district, especially in Seberang Jaya and Bandar Perda, and thus, spur the local economy in the areas,” he said.
On a separate matter, when asked by a journalist regarding the status of the cloud seeding operations at Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam, Chow replied that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has already carried out the operation.
“And we will know the results in the next few days whether the rainfall really happens in the dam areas or not, before we come out with a different alternative,” he said.
As of 1pm today, the effective capacities at Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam are 41.5% and 48.7% respectively.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis