Labuan stall holders get 'cooling off' offer

LABUAN: Stall holders at the central market here, who have been up in arms against the proposed new monthly rental of RM400 at the soon-to-be opened new RM33.5 million general market, may get to enjoy a "better deal" after all.In what is seen as a "cooling off" to the heat generated by the issue, Chairman of the Labuan Corporation (LC), Datuk Rozman Isli (pic), made a thoughtful offer to the market traders. The traders are presently paying RM30 per month, which they have been enjoying for years.

However, LC had decided to adjust the rate to a more "realistic" amount when the new market-cum-bazaar is ready by the end of November.

The stall holders however protested against the new rate, describing it as exorbitant and inconsiderate, as they feared that the new rental rate would make it difficult for them to make ends meet.

One of them had said: "We expressed our views to LC officials but they stood firm, saying that if we are not prepared to pay they are scores of others waiting for the stalls and willing to pay."

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This response further frayed the tempers of the traders, who finally appealed to Rozman, who is also the local MP, for intervention.

When Rozman was contacted, he said: "I have allayed the fears of the stall holders by giving them a grace period, meaning they should move in and use the stalls first without fuss. And if they found their incomes from their businesses are inadequate, then give us the facts and figures and we will consider a new rate, but for the moment the RM400 rate remains."

Rozman said the bazaar is located at a prime area since it is a marketplace.

He said there would be a guaranteed number of people going to the market daily. He also noted that the new bazaar would offer a better environment for business.

"It is clean and orderly. Moreover, the RM400 rate works out to be merely slightly more than RM10 per day, which is still the cheapest compared to stall rates in the town area," he said, adding that the LC has to bear a high maintenance cost.

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The upper floor of the market where the bazaar will be located is mainly for dry items, groceries, ornamental products, gifts and handicrafts. There would also food stalls and an air-conditioned cyber café.

In all there are 500 stalls at the market and bazaar, classified into open area stalls, mixed stalls and upper floor bazaar.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

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