ALOR STAR: PEKAN Rabu traders are not too keen to move to Ukir Mall as it may affect their businesses.
Fatimawati Ali, 52, who owns a store called Zaitun Enterprise, said less established outlets which had not made a name for themselves may suffer.
Fatimawati’s shop has been around for 34 years.
She feels that people will still come to her outlet as it is quite well known. Her shop sells kain pelikat, sampin and songket.
“Ukir Mall’s location is not as strategic and as well-known as Pekan Rabu,” she said.
“It will take some time for business to pick up for new traders.”
Siti Nor Hassan, 30, who owns the Tokoh Jamu dan Kosmetik Zulhakim shop, said she was not at all keen on the move.
“We may have fewer customers because people are used to coming here,” she said.
“They don’t know about the new place.
“Moreover, it is more convenient here as there is a bus and taxi stand nearby.
“This makes it easy for people to come and browse and while away the time, and end up buying things,” she said.
Kerepek and kuih seller, Siti Hajar Rahim, 22, who started working at Pekan Rabu about a year ago, said not many people know about Ukir Mall.
“No doubt, Pekan Rabu has its own set of challenges, such as the fact that it is an old building and it is difficult to get parking around here, but it is still a famous landmark in Alor Star that many people want to visit,” she said.
However, jewellery kiosk employee Nurul Nadia Fazil, 25, said she was looking forward to the move as it would be a refreshing change and she hoped the new location would bring good luck to the business.
“Sometimes a change of environment can help a business to do better,” she said.
“Perhaps we can also promote awareness of the new location by handing out banners and flyers at shopping malls. This is one way to attract new customers to Ukir Mall.”
Pekan Rabu Cooperative chairman Lt-Col (rtd) Lufti Ahmad Ghazi said: “When we visited Ukir Mall recently we were assured that they would be ready by early September and the traders would be able to move in by late this week or the first week of next month,” he said.
“We will give traders plenty of notice. This week we will send out the first notice telling them the estimated date of the move and once the exact date is confirmed we will send out another notice, a week before the move.”
Last year, it was announced that Pekan Rabu would be demolished and rebuilt as a modern shopping mall with better facilities.
The traders would be relocated temporarily.
The new building will be seven storeys high and have 360 shoplots.
Pekan Rabu has been at its current site since 1932.