KEPALA BATAS: INSENSITIVE and unfair. That is what the 120 traders at Pasar Awam Permatang Manggis, here, are calling the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) for its decision to raise their monthly rental by 100 per cent.
The group comprising mostly pioneer traders at the wet market claimed the local authority had failed to listen to their concerns about declining business.
Their spokesman, Kausar Abdul Hamid, said the council issued the notice on the new rental rates in September but failed to listen to their grievances.
He said under the new structure, the rent for lots selling vegetables would now cost RM60 each, while those selling fish, meat and others would be charged rental fees of RM150, RM160 and RM240, respectively.
“This is totally unfair and outrageous of the council.
“Business has not been good and now this,” he said during a peaceful protest staged by the traders at the market yesterday.
He claimed it was inconsiderate of the council to impose such a hike on the traders, who were mostly in their 50s and had been doing business at the wet market since it was established in 2001.
“The council said the rental increase was to pay for the improvement of facilities at the wet market.
“We have no choice but to pay the new rates as the lots are our livelihoods,” he said.
Butcher Mohd Khori Hashim, 57, said they were disappointed that the council had not engaged them in discussions prior to raising the rent.
“We have been trading here for a long time and business has been slow.
“We ask the council to consider reverting to the old rental rates or reduing the increase to a reasonable level.
“We are open to discussions and hope the authorities will hear us out,” he said.
Meanwhile, MPSP secretary Rozali Mohamud, when contacted, said the new rental rates were to meet utility costs and pay for improvement works.
He said the new rates were also to ensure that the council’s services were not affected and that the council was not making a profit from the rate increase.