Traders at Tapah Road Market hope for miracle from new rep

 

The entrance to Tapah Road Public Market, which is nearly deserted these days due to a lack of traders and customers.

TAPAH: 

The term “location” holds different meanings for every business – it can refer to where you work or operate, or even where you can find the goods and services you seek.

From a strategic perspective, location, when combined with the right product, price, and promotions, can determine whether a business thrives or struggles.

Tapah Road Market’s location on the map.

This is a reality with which the traders at Tapah Road Public Market are all too familiar.

Located about 7km from town and concealed by trees and oil palm plantations, the market is out of sight of nearby residential areas and vehicles passing through Jalan Tapah (A10).

With the Ayer Kuning by-election approaching, though, traders are hoping for a miracle from their new assemblyman.

The fresh produce section remains empty and quiet.

Despite paying low monthly rent to the Tapah district council – just RM6 for open lots and RM50 for shoplots – traders are frustrated by the lack of foot traffic.

Opened in 2009, the market has perhaps four traders selling fresh produce out of approximately 24 open lots, and only about three of the eight shoplots are currently occupied.

“Sometimes, only two or three people come by in a day. On some days, we barely make RM10 to RM15, and sometimes no one comes to buy at all.

Shops are lifeless without customers.

“When goods like onions go unsold and spoil, we have no choice but to throw them away,” said grocery vendor Cik Mah, 62.

The traders are also competing with supermarkets in town, she added.

“We’re holding on, hoping for a miracle – maybe new housing projects will be built nearby, and we’re also hoping that the new assemblyman will step in and help.”

Muhamad Firdaus Mazlan, 41, who sells santan or coconut milk, has resorted to taking online orders and making direct deliveries to homes and eateries.

“It’s hard to get the villagers to come all the way into the jungle. Even earning RM100 a day is difficult. Only about 30 people visit the market daily, and not all of them buy santan,” he said.

A plea for more attention

Muzafar Anes, 26, who sells fresh produce, hopes the authorities will organise regular activities at the market, like a bi-weekly farmers’ market, to draw in more visitors.

Meanwhile, Riduan Malek, 59, who also sells santan, hopes the new assemblyman will take more interest in the market’s plight. He suggests upgrading the access road to the market as well as improving its facilities.

Che Husin Din, 64, proposed relocating the market closer to the main road, given that the housing and local government ministry has announced an allocation of RM6.13 million for Tapah.

“Use part of that funding to move the market to the roadside. This area could then be repurposed for other activities more suited to its location deep in the forest,” he said.

Resident Muslim Zaman, 35, said locals avoid the market due to its location and the small number of traders.

“We would support relocating the market to the roadside to help revitalise the area. If not, it will remain dead because it’s just too far off the beaten path,” he said.

Voters in the Ayer Kuning constituency will cast their ballots on April 26. Barisan Nasional is defending the seat against Perikatan Nasional and Parti Sosialis Malaysia. - FMT