Smooth relocation: (From left) Chieng, Ngieng, Tiong and Hii inspecting a foodstall at the new site.

SIBU: The 176 pasar malam (night market) hawkers are generally happy after being relocated to a new site here.

The iconic pasar malam is now at the Butterfly Garden, which is near the Tua Pek Kong temple.

Established in 1973, the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) had to relocate it due to serious traffic congestion at the former site, which was the carpark between Jalan Market and High Street.

Sibu Pasar Malam Association chairman David Sie said the relocation yesterday was carried out with no major problems.

Their only grouse was that the power sockets for some stalls were located too far away and that most hawkers had to manually carry their wares to the stalls instead of bringing them in by vehicle.

Sie hoped that SMC would have the additional power sockets nearer to these stalls located in the middle section of the pasar malam.

A hawker selling fashion accessories and toys told The Star that she liked the new environment because it was clean.

“I hope the council would always keep the new pasar malam clean and upgrade its facilities from time to time,” the hawker, who declined to be named, said.

She added that she was confident business at the new site would prosper.

SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, who inspected the site last night with his deputy Daniel Ngieng, council secretary Hii Chang Kee, Markets and Petty Traders Standing Committee chairman Chieng Buong Toon and deputy chairman Wong Hie Ping and councillor So Teck Kee assured the hawkers that the council would listen to their constructive suggestions and genuine complaints.

“We will make the necessary improvement from time to time for the convenience and for the good of the hawkers and the customers,” Tiong stressed.

He also urged the hawkers to cooperate with each other to keep the pasar malam clean and hygienic at all times.

Sibu MP Wong Ho Leng, who also visited the pasar malam last night, said he had received complaints from the public that the pasar malam had caused traffic congestion along Jalan Blacksmith and Jalan Island.

Wong, who is also Bukit Assek assemblyman, said feedback from the public suggested that the time to close the carpark at the Butterfly Garden should be extended from 4pm to 5pm for the convenience of the businessmen and officer workers around the area.

“I hope the council will rectify these problems as soon as possible,” Wong said.

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