PAS recently stated at its annual assembly that it aims to persuade non-Muslims that the Islamist party can protect their interests. However, a decision regarding an iconic market and food court in Terengganu’s Kampung Cina challenges that narrative.
Residents of Kampung Cina were upset as traders and hawkers of the Kampung Tiong market and food court were being evicted in Kuala Terengganu, the capital of PAS-ruled Terengganu. Dr. Monna Ong, an advisor to the market’s hawkers, stated that the Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT), which owned the site, had decided to take back the land for a residential and commercial center.
Traders reported that they had been given orders to vacate the venue by the end of this month.
“The market-food court has been a popular community center for the past 40 years. Everyone comes here to hang out, especially during the weekends,” said a resident to The Star.
“It serves food and goods catering to us and it is being torn down,” said a 56-year-old resident, expressing his disappointment with the local council’s decision.
Former Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad, who was assisting the merchants, criticized PAS for not considering the feelings of non-Muslims in the states it governs.
“This is the only Chinese market in town and it is near a historic well that is 200 years old which is sacred to the community,” said Kamarul Barhin.
“PAS says it wants to win over non-Muslims but it is not walking the talk. They feel like they can do whatever they want to the minorities in their states,” Raja Kamarul said.
According to residents and merchants, the Kampung Tiong market-food court had been around for close to 40 years and had about 100 businesses, half of which were food stalls while the rest sold goods.
Ong urge the government to show mercy and demonstrate greater consideration to the 50 families who relied on their livelihood as hawkers at the Kg Tiong market.
The morning market stalls would feature a variety of daily groceries such as vegetables, noodles and fruits as well as clothes, wallets, belts, stationery and prayer items.
The majority of the food hawkers offered Chinese staples but there were also a few stalls run by Muslims that sold satay, kuih and nasi kerabu.
“When they were told to move, even the Muslim stall owners wanted to follow their Chinese neighbors because they had already built a loyal customer base among the Chinese patrons,” said a merchant named Tan.
“But everyone was eventually separated and given stalls at different food courts across the city such as the main bus terminal and Batu Burok beach,” said Tan.
(Merchants interviewed by The Star refused to give their full names for fear of reprisals since they depend on the local authorities for their licenses).
“The heavy monsoon rains have started and its really hard for us to find a place to temporarily store our stock and equipment,” said Tan.
Ong, who is also Terengganu MCA chairperson, said extensive discussion have been made with policy makers in MBKT to secure an alternative site for the market. “We have explored various options, including seeking private land and even writing a letter to the Mentri Besar to request for an extension so that the hawkers can find a strategic location in China Town”.
On Monday (Nov 27), traders had received news that they would be relocated to a new site, near the KT waterfront, which was also owned by MBKT, said Ong.
“However, this new location is outside China town and the villagers are concerned about the uncertainty of the crowds and sales at this unfamiliar place,” she said.
“I urge the government to show mercy and demonstrate greater consideration. I hope that the state can set aside political interests and prioritize the well-being of the people”.
