Old Kota Baharu market traders seek Sultan’s intervention

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PEACEFUL GATHERING: Ab Salim (centre) handling over the memorandum to Zawawi Mohamad at the gathering. — Bernama photo

KOTA BAHARU: Some 300 traders of the old Kota Baharu Municipal Council Arked who are unhappy over the move to Tok Guru Bazaar here yesterday held peaceful gatherings in front of Istana Balai Besar and Kota Darul Naim.

The assemblies, held separately at about 11.30am, appealed for the intervention of the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V and Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to help settle the traders’ predicament.

At the gathering, the chairman of the Kota Baharu Municipal Council Old Arked Traders Association, Ab Salim Ahmad handed over a memorandum to Palace Officer, Rosli Mamat and Menteri Besar Special Officer, Zawawi Mohamad.

Ab Salim said they protested the decision of the balloting of lots for Tok Guru Bazaar as it was held without the agreement of the association.

“We are against the way the selection and balloting were done for 58 traders who were given lots through balloting without our presence,” he said and added that the association wanted the selection of the 58 traders to be declared null and void and for fresh balloting to be held again.

On the supply of electricity at the old market which was terminated by the Kota Baharu Municipal Council on Sunday, Ab Salim said despite the Menteri Besar’s Office instruction to reconnect electricity supply, it had not been carried out by the Municipal Council.

Traders of the old Kota Baharu municipal market were unhappy with the space and price of the shop lot offered at Tok Guru Bazaar and had refused to move to the bazaar even after receiving notices from the authority. — Bernama