KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen suggests that hawkers of the Open Air Market get RM1,500 in compensation for loss of earnings caused by renovation work instead of only RM500.
The amount of RM500 was announced by Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Chong yesterday said Wong had promised in the last State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting that hawkers affected by the renovation work would be given a subsidy of RM500 per month.
The three-month renovation work on the market commenced on May 15. It costs RM400,000.
Wong said on Sept 5 a total of 93 stallholders in Kuching affected by ongoing renovation work would be compensated with RM500 each when upgrading work is in progress. He provided a list of eligible hawkers.
Describing the act of releasing the name list as a “political stunt”, Chong told a press conference here that “it was like telling the people he (Wong) is doing something but in fact, nothing was done”.
He claimed that Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) had the list even before the renovation work as the hawkers pay a licence fee every three months.
“So much for the ‘Janji Ditepati’ (promises fullfilled), I hope the government will not snake its way out (of paying),” said the Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
Chong also wants the funds released to the hawkers as soon as possible.
“Why is there a delay in disbursing to hawkers the funds to help their livelihood affected by the renovation?”
He wondered whether the government was intentionally holding the funds to disburse during the election campaign “to show the government is ‘prihatin’ (caring)”.
“The government should release the funds to the affected hawkers within seven days to show its sincerity,” urged Chong who is State DAP secretary.