SANDAKAN: The long-standing issue involving the early morning market operating at the Sandakan Central Market car park has been resolved, with the market set to be relocated to the Bandar Ramai-Ramai Wholesale Market.
The decision drew mixed reactions from traders, members of the public and elected representatives who attended a briefing and engagement session on the relocation of hawkers and wholesalers at the Community Hall on Wednesday.
Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) President Walter Kenson said the relocation is part of efforts to rationalise and restructure land use in Sandakan town centre to improve order and comfort while avoiding conflicts.
He said the early morning market was originally allowed to operate on a temporary basis in 2018 but has since expanded into a wholesale and retail market for vegetables and fruits.
“Various issues have arisen, including tidiness, cleanliness and traffic congestion. Operations that were supposed to run from 9pm to 6am have gradually turned into a regular market, affecting the use of public parking at Sandakan Central Market,” he said.
Walter said the situation had contributed to traffic congestion, including disruptions to tourist bus routes, particularly for hotels in the area, and had also affected the income of traders at Sandakan Central Market.
He said MPS therefore proposed relocating the early morning market to the Bandar Ramai-Ramai Wholesale Market, which has more complete basic facilities and a larger parking area to ensure more orderly operations.
Walter said the decision received mixed feedback from traders, but MPS had to make a decision based on existing laws, guidelines and current needs to address congestion and cleanliness issues.
“At the Bandar Ramai-Ramai Wholesale Market, we will provide better facilities and several attractive incentives, including lower hawker fees and longer operating hours,” he said.
He said wholesale operations would be allowed from 9pm to 9am, while retail traders could operate until noon.
Facilities to be provided include trading tables, lighting, fans, public toilets, rubbish bins and a wider logistics loading and unloading area.
Walter said that after considering feedback from traders and elected representatives, the relocation deadline had been extended from Feb 28 to May 1, after the Hari Raya celebrations, with operations at the existing site to end on April 30.
He added that the early morning market is currently managed by an operator but, following the relocation, overall management will be placed under MPS supervision.
“This step is part of efforts to improve markets and tamu in Sandakan in a more organised manner and to project a clean and tourist-friendly city image,” he said.
Based on early morning market data, there are 132 active traders, but only 83 are eligible for relocation, comprising Malaysian citizen vegetable and fruit retailers and wholesalers.
