Masing and Watson (third and second left, respectively) show the proposed plan for the jungle produce market.
KAPIT: A call has been made to turn a stretch of idle land along the New Kapit Bazaar Waterfront into a jungle produce market and also a parking bay.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing noted that the present Terasang Market along Jalan Penghulu Geringgang was insufficient to accommodate traders selling jungle produce.
“As a result, many traders have no choice but to sell along the roads opposite the post office building and Jalan Waterfront here.
“To me, this is an embarrassment because this problem has been going on for too long. The Kapit District Council should have looked into this. Why can’t they initiate something? They should use their brain to think of something, instead of being told what to do,” he told reporters after having a walkabout around town recently.
On the proposed site for the market, Masing said he had checked with the Land Custody Development Authority (LCDA) and also discussed with the Land and Survey Department here.
“This piece of land stretches from the longboat jetty up to the Longhouse Lodging House. It is a very strategic place for the trading of jungle produce. We should allow them (public) to shop and (traders) to sell at a proper place,” he said.
The recent walkabout by Masing, who is Baleh assemblyman, also covered the inspection on the Bailey
bridge project slated for connecting SK Sungai Kapit with the main road; the construction of iron bridges at Sungai Sebilat, Jalan Bukit Goram and Sungai Amang behind Medical Villa, Jalan Selirik; as well as the state land near Jalan Kapit/Yong meant for the central bus terminal project here.
Masing also announced a road project for Kapit Hospital.
Land and Survey Department assistant land officer Watson Awan and its assistant planning officer Daniel Taboh Nyala and Councillor Jantai Maseng were among those who accompanied Masing.