THE long-awaited redevelopment of the Perak Road market should be prioritised due to its ageing condition and the needs of traders and residents, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
Speaking to Buletin Mutiara after the ‘Jelajah CM Chow’ programme in the Batu Lanchang constituency this morning, Chow said the market, which has been serving the community for more than 70 years, is in dire need of either a major upgrade or comprehensive redevelopment.
“The condition of the market is quite poor, as we witnessed this morning. Plans to redevelop it have been discussed by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for more than 10 years.
“An RFP (Request for Proposal) was previously called to redevelop the market together with the adjacent land near the Perak Road Fire and Rescue Station. Although the project was awarded, it eventually did not materialise,” he said.
Chow said he had been informed that MBPP is currently preparing a new RFP for the project and urged the council to expedite its implementation.
“We hope MBPP will speed up the redevelopment process. Since there are already plans in place, this project should be treated as one of the council’s priorities.
“The Perak Road market is an important community asset that has served generations of residents. We need to ensure that traders and visitors can operate and conduct their daily activities in a safer and more comfortable environment,” he added.
The visit, which was joined by Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, also included stops at several locations to inspect local issues and ongoing community concerns.
At a traditional coffee business operating under the SBK brand in Jelutong, Chow praised the third-generation operators for successfully modernising the family enterprise while preserving its heritage.
He said the younger generation had introduced new ideas and management approaches, transforming the business into a modern café concept that continues to serve traditional coffee and local favourites.
“The company has expanded to five outlets through the hard work of its operators. It is encouraging to see traditional family businesses adapting and growing while maintaining their identity,” he said.
However, Chow noted that food and beverage operators continue to face challenges, including labour shortages, staffing issues and rental costs.
“We have taken note of the concerns raised by the operators. We hope the state government and local authorities can continue to be partners to businesses in addressing these challenges,” he said.
Chow and his entourage also visited a site at Chemor Street where four temple structures had been built on land reserved for the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).
Chow said efforts are underway to identify nearby land for relocation, adding that the state government’s existing policy allows the temporary use of certain state land for periods of between 10 and 20 years, subject to approval.
“The objective is to relocate these structures to a more suitable location so that they no longer occupy the DID reserve, which could create issues in the future,” he said.
At Lorong Jelutong, Chow inspected a parcel of open space that had been encroached upon over the years.
He said the land was originally designated by the developer as a public open space when the housing project was completed decades ago.
“Following discussions by the assemblyman and MBPP’s Landscape Department, the occupants have agreed to relocate to make way for the proposed landscaping project.
“Once completed, the project will restore the area for public use and connect it with a nearby open space, creating a recreational area of almost 3,000 square metres for residents.
“The rehabilitation of the river reserve will also help improve water flow and reduce the risk of flooding in the surrounding area,” he said.
Chow said his office would continue monitoring the issues raised during the visit and work with the relevant agencies to facilitate solutions.
“Although there are always challenges in terms of funding, we will continue to do our best to address the concerns raised by the people.
“Some projects require smaller allocations and can be implemented more quickly, while larger projects such as the redevelopment of the Perak Road market should be prioritised.
“The purpose of this constituency visit is to better understand issues on the ground and work together with the relevant agencies to find practical solutions that benefit the people,” he said.
Also present were MBPP councillor Nicholas Theng, MBPP Landscape Department architect Azizul Fahmi, and staff from the Batu Lanchang service centre.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi