KUALA TERENGGANU: The Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) has decided to maintain the higher rental rates for the newly-built Pasar Payang 1 as previously set.
Kuala Terengganu Mayor Datuk Rosli Latif said the rental rates in the new business centre, developed by the federal government at a cost of more than RM70mil, will come into effect on Aug 1.
He said that as of last week, 90% of the 110 traders who accepted the offer to do business at Pasar Payang 1 had paid the deposit for their shop lots and received their keys.
"The MBKT, in its recent meeting, has decided to maintain the new rental rates as informed through the offer letters distributed to the traders," Rosli said to reporters after the Eksplorasi Gelombang Kasih Sejagat programme at Pantai Pandak, Chendering, on Thursday (June 27).
Rosli also said the opening of Pasar Payang 1, initially scheduled for July 1, was postponed to Aug 1 because the process of remodelling and renovating shop lots by traders was still ongoing.
"For the silk and batik shop lots on the first floor, renovations had to be done to add more shop lots to accommodate the number of traders. This process is expected to be completed by the end of this year," he said.
Last month, about 400 traders in Pasar Payang 1 pleaded with MBKT to review the new rental rates, which were allegedly increased by between 300% to 500%.
