THE PRESENT: Main Bazaar along the Sarawak River as at today.
KUCHING: The government through the Ministry of Tourism is offering to foot half of the cost of repainting the shops at Main Bazaar here.
The repainting project to be undertaken by Kuching City North Council (DBKU) is part of the government’s effort to upgrade historical places here.
Disclosing this offer to thesundaypost recently, Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg said his ministry was waiting for the response from shop owners.
“The government will help the shop owners with 50 per cent of the repainting cost while the shop owners will be responsible for the rest. The shops belong to them after all.”
Facing the Sarawak River and the Kuching Waterfront Main Bazaar, the city’s oldest street is the most visited destination here.
Apart from repainting of the shop lots, the face-lift plan will include leveling the five-foot way of the shop lots to ensure a safer and more pleasant walk along the thoroughfare for shoppers and tourists.
A commission member of DBKU, Datuk Wee Hong Seng when contacted said he and Datuk Steve Ng as well as DBKU officers would contact owners of the about 80 shop houses along the street next week to get them accept the offer.
“Once the majority of shop owners agree, we will issue an open tender for the repainting contract and once the contractor is identified, we will start the project immediately. We will get the repainting job done with transparency and consultation,” Wee stressed.
Wee hoped that the shop owners would take up the offer to upgrade the Main Bazaar which is more than 100 years old.
“This is a real golden opportunity as the shop owners only need to pay half of re-painting cost. Opportunity like this does not happen all the time. Fund has already been allocated and we need to start the project soon,” said Wee.
He pointed out that it was actually mandatory for shop owners to repaint their properties when instructed by the local council under the Local Authorities (Cleanliness) 1999 by-laws.
Article 23 of Local Authorities (Cleanliness) 1999 by-laws states that “The Chief Administrative Officer or any other officer authorised by him may, at all reasonable times, enter and inspect all houses, buildings and premises and by an order in writing direct the owner or occupier to cause all or any part thereof including any perimeter wall or fencing to be internally or externally cleansed, white-washed, colour-washed or painted within such time to be stated in the order and in such manner and such colour, if any, as may be specified in the order.
Hence even if the shop owners refused to take up the offer they would still be compelled to do so later but at their own cost.
“Those who agree first will get their shop lots repainted first. For those who disagree, they might still be required to do so under,” said Wee.