KUALA TERENGGANU: The city’s decades old Pasar Payang will make way for a new RM78 million structure that will transform the traditional wet-and-dry daily market into a modern central market.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that the time has come for the old complex to make way for a modern pasar (market) in view of the changing times and to meet the requirements of modern day living.
“I saw and surveyed the situation at the old market and am aware of the changes that have to be done for better comfort.
“ It has been agreed that the pasar will undergo a RM78 million facelift to be undertaken by the Housing, Urban Wellbeing and Local Government Ministry; the project is expected to be ready by 2018,” Najib said after spending 50 minutes for a walkabout at Pasar Payang and a stopover at the adjacent Chinatown.
An estimated 10,000 people attended Najib’s visit. Present were Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, state leaders and executive council members.
The prime minister said that the facelift for Pasar Payang would augur well for the tourism industry as the facility was a major attraction for visitors.
“I also met up with trishaw riders and ferry boat operators and learnt that the state government has allocated monthly incentive payments since last year to help them get by.
“I hope all these initiatives will provide the city and state with more development than previous years,” he said before having a short breakfast with state leaders and traders at the market.
The facelift for Pasar Payang will come complete with an escalator, car park complex, skybridge and clock tower.