Source :
http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/6518
FUNDS FOR A BETTER CENTRAL MARKET
2nd April, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: City Hall would soon allocate funds to give the Central Market here a facelift, as well as to improve its amenities, the Mayor, Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim said.
He announced this while speaking at a dinner hosted by the Kota Kinabalu Hawkers Association (KKHA) in conjunction with its “Golden Jubilee” celebration, held at a leading Chinese restaurant here on Saturday.
The announcement received a thunderous applause from the Association members as well as its invited guests who were present at the occasion.
Iliyas noted that the timely plan came about as the result of Datuk Edward Khoo’s personal attention towards the plight of the hawkers over the need to better improve the condition of the market.
“Khoo in fact told me that whatever needs to be repair must be repaired. We should thank him (Khoo) for his effort in securing the much needed funds from the State government,” said Iliyas.
Besides this, Iliyas also called on the Association members to strive to maintain the cleanliness of the marketplace, especially citing that it is frequently visited by tourists and foreign visitors.
Among the local dignitaries present included its guest of honour Datuk Yong Teck Lee who is also the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President, Khoo, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Melanie Chia, Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Edward Yong Oui Fah, Likas Assemblyman Liew Teck Chan, MP for Sepangar Eric Majimbun, MCA Api-Api divisional chairman Datuk Chau Teck On, former MP for Gaya Datuk Yong Chew Lip and long-serving KKHA President, Fung Tze Yen.
Yong who is also the Association’s Honorary Advisor in his speech later welcomed Iliyas’s announcement, describing it as a timely move towards preserving the historical building and landmark of Kota Kinabalu city.
Citing the case of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) which had remained where it is till to date despite numerous talks of relocation in the past, he hoped the Central Market too could remain at its present site, unless it is absolutely necessary to relocate it.
This was also the aspiration of a majority of the hawkers who had been doing business there for the last four decades.
Apart from this Yong also later urged the Association to submit a list of items that require repair or refurbishment, to the City Hall as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, during his speech Fung registered his utmost appreciation to Yong for his unswerving support to the Association in the past 17 years.
He also thanked Khoo for his support and assistance in the recent years and, especially in the latest move of securing State government funds for the Central Market’s renovation.