TAIPING: Taiping Market, the oldest market in Malaysia, will soon undergo massive restoration works costing RM9 million.
Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamarudin said works on the site, which houses 212 business lots with a total area of 0.4 hectares, would begin next year and was expected to be completed within two or three years.
“The market, which was built in the 1880s, will be upgraded and modernised. It will be equipped with better facilities for traders and customers. However, the traditional design and wood structure will remain in order to preserve the historical value and to attract more tourists.
“In the first phase, a total of RM1 million has been approved to design the building with the aim of maintaining its heritage structure,” she said at a press conference after a working visit to the market here, today.
Zuraida added that traders here had agreed to pay a higher rent when the upgrading works were completed. Currently, they are paying RM80 per month.
On a separate note, she said the ministry would study the report on 97 abandoned fire trucks worth RM165 million as reported in the media yesterday.
Zuraida added that it would find ways to fix the fire trucks as soon as possible as the vehicles were crucial to the team in providing services to the public.
She said the ministry would find out if the issue involved politicians or elements of abuse of power.
“We will get the relevant authorities to investigate so that further action can be taken,” she said.
It was reported yesterday that the failure of suppliers to provide certain designs and installation of pieces of equipment according to the specification were among the reasons why the vehicles purchased in 2007, 2010 and 2014 were left abandoned.