GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) today defended its move to allow a private company to operate its new RM9 million market in Batu Ferringhi here, following criticism from a group here recently.
MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang said the council in the past had privatised several markets and this had proven to be a success.
Recently, the Socialist Progressive Front (SPF) said the Batu Ferringhi market, which was placed under private management, had asked for a high rent. It also said it was wrong to privatise council properties.
Speaking to FMT, Yew said many council food courts and markets had been privatised over the past decade.
He gave the example of the Sungai Pinang council hawker complex, which he said was once deserted and largely unpopular. Once it was given to a private party to manage, it had become very famous.
“As for concerns of high rent at the Batu Ferringhi market, there is no final decision on the rent as of now. So the claims of high rent are baseless.
“Whatever said and done, we will make sure the rent remains affordable for all,” he said.
SPF’s Teh Yee Cheu had said privatising council markets was a form of dereliction of duty as the market ought to be run by the council since it was funded by ratepayers.
He claimed news of the privatisation of the market at Jalan Sungai 1 came as a shock to some 50 hawkers who had previously operated by the roadside.
The former two-term Penang assemblyman said MBPP had called the hawkers for a briefing on Nov 11 where they were informed that the rent for space in the new market would be between RM750 and RM1,600 a month. - FMT
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