RECTIFYING PROBLEM: (From second left) See with Faisal and others during an inspection of Sungai Maong Wet Market.
KUCHING: Hawkers have to endure the stench at Sungai Maong Wet Market for over a month as the contractor engaged by Kuching City North Hall (DBKU) had not done a good job of cleaning it.
One of them, who wished to be known as Liew, complained that the market sometimes emits a foul smell.
“Even though we pay fees, DBKU might as well expect us to clean the market ourselves. We are seriously disappointed with the poor service started two months ago,” Liew said.
“It was perfectly fine before this and we all are aware that it is due to a change of cleaning company. We do not really mind the change but the service should not be poor,” she told reporters when newly elected Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and DBKU officers inspected the market yesterday.
Liew, who has been trading there for seven years, said the hawkers had complained to the council but there was no improvement.
They then approached See, who is also State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief.
Vegetable seller Liew said: “The smell is terrible at times. Hygiene means everything to us here at the market and it is not worth paying RM120 every three months.
“The public toilet is worse as it cannot flush; you (reporters) should go and try. Although we have complained to DBKU, the condition is still bad.”
According to DBKU’s head of Building Department Faisal Adenan, the job of Sungai Maong Wet Market has been contracted to a company for two years.
“The privatisation started two years ago and only recently we received complaints. We have warned the contractor verbally and they agreed the problem will not happen anymore,” he said.
Faisal disclosed that the contract company was facing a problem keeping the place clean due to manpower problem.
He assured that DBKU was monitoring the company’s performance and if cleanliness of the market was still not improved, a written warning would be issued.
Faisal called on hawkers and petty traders to shoulder the responsibility of keeping the market clean, and that the council would assist if they wanted to organise a cleaning programme.
The rainwater pipes were clogged as hawkers tossed waste and leftover food into the basin. He said a grease trap had been provided but users should avoid dumping anything into the basin so pipes would not get blocked.
“We want to instil a sense of belonging to hawkers although the cleaning job has been privatised.”
He said the federal government had allocated RM130,000 for DBKU to upgrade facilities under its jurisdiction.
“This fund is used for maintaining markets such as repaint, enhance facilities and others within DBKU area,” he said.
See, a human rights lawyer, was pleased that DBKU officers came along with him to inspect the market on short notice.
“We received complaints a week ago and yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon we called up DBKU to see what can be done to solve the problem. The officers agreed to meet us today (Thursday), which we deeply appreciate.”
See said he looked forward to working with other government departments and agencies to deliver better services and meet the requirements of the communities.