Yiing Chung Ming
SIBU: The verbal spat between Sibu Central Market Hawkers Association led by chairman Yiing Chung Ming and three other hawkers associations continues to hit the spotlight with Yiing refusing to accept the explanation of the three associations that Sibu Central Market will remain a permanent feature.
The three hawkers associations are Sibu Central Market Hawkers (Welfare) Association led by Tan Hong Kiang, Sibu Petty Traders Association led by Tiong Thai Fong and Sibu-Meradong Hawkers Association led by Chiong Siong Nguong.
They had told the Sibu Central Market hawkers that they had the assurance of Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh that they would be allowed to trade permanently at their present location as long as they carried out their business in accordance with the rules and regulations meted out by the Sibu Municipal Council.
Yiing countered this during a press conference yesterday morning, questioning the viability of the assurance.
“On what ground can they give the assurance that the central market will not be relocated elsewhere?
“We need a certified document to prove their statement or else that would only be a blank and a misleading assurance,” Yiing said.
Yiing said he had reasons to fear for the future. Citing as an example, he said the wet market in Market Road and the Lembangan Market were both relocated after years of trading at their original sites.
“That is why we need somebody to give us a legal document to support the statement that the Sibu Central Market will remain a permanent feature. We do not want verbal promises that carry no weight,” reiterated Yiing.
He likened the scenario to the buying of houses or shop houses when the buyers would always look into the lease of the land title, whether it was for 60 years, 90 years or 999 years.
On the mandatory 25-day business operation, he said to say that many hawkers were willing to abide was another misleading statement from the group.
“Most of the hawkers are actually forced to work daily because they will be fined RM100 per day if they fail to turn up,” he claimed.
Yiing said if there was good business, the hawkers would be more than willing to open their businesses daily and even throughout the day.
“But sometimes, there is just no business and you cannot blame the hawkers for taking a few days leave,” he argued.
Yiing also mentioned that the upgrading and improvement of the facilities at the Central Market was the duty and the responsibility of the council.
He said the hawkers were paying their monthly rental fees to the council and it was only fair the council did its part.
“As such, we do not feel that we need to be grateful to the council for upgrading the facilities. What we need to do is to work closely with the council, and that should be more than enough,” he told hawkers.
Yiing also wants the 20 sen per entry charge for the use of the toilet at the Central Market.