Traders at a traditional Chinese market in Kuala Terengganu, who were asked to vacate their decades-old trading area, recently received a generous gift to help alleviate their difficulties during the Lunar New Year.
Around 40 merchants at the Kampung Tiong market and food court were given an ang pow of RM3,800 each by the Exsim Group, which is developing a commercial and residential center on the market site.
Initially, the traders were instructed to clear the area by the end of November, but were given an extension until after Chinese New Year by the developer.
“Our discussions with Mr Lim, the developer, were positive, and he understood the challenges faced by our hawkers, particularly in times of economic uncertainty,” said hawkers association adviser Dr Monna Ong, referring to Exsim Group managing director Lim Aik Hoe.
“With the New Year approaching, he expressed a desire to offer a gesture of goodwill. He decided to give each hawker a red packet of RM3,800,” said Ong.
“Today, we gathered the hawkers and distributed the ang pow,” said Ong.
“On behalf of the association, I extend heartfelt thanks to Exsim Group, especially Mr Lim,” said Ong, who is also Terengganu MCA chairman, in a statement.
Ong said she and another association adviser, Toh Seng Kee, would meet with Kuala Terengganu city council officials after the new year to discuss the relocation.
The Kampung Tiong market and food court have been hubs for Kuala Terengganu’s Chinese community for the past 40 years and have sold goods and foods tailored to the community.
Residents and the market’s supporters said that it was the only one of its kind in Kuala Terengganu that sold non-halal food and beverages and was an integral part of the community.
Last October, the state’s Perikatan Nasional administration decided to take back the land to be developed into a new commercial and residential center and the traders were asked to leave.
The state government has offered several new sites and venues where the traders could potentially move.
