4. RESTORATION OF THE GAMBIER STREET MARKET.

4- RESTORATION OF THE GAMBIER STREET MARKET

I would like to propose to this August House to consider preserving the historical heritage of the Gambier St. Hawkers Market, and this could be made fully compatible with the Kuching riverfront extension project, by replacing it with a modern multi-storey new market, fitted with sufficient car parks and which would benefit incumbent hawkers, greatly revive the area and nearby businesses, benefit consumers and become an added attraction for foreign tourists. The modern Sibu Central Market is a model of a successful market in the Central Business District of Sibu.

Let me convey to this August House the unanimous and resolute opposition of the hawkers against their proposed relocation to Tabuan Laru. I can therefore confirm what the member for Kota Sentosa has told this August House only yesterday. There is therefore great doubt on the so called 290 hawkers who allegedly supported the move, as claimed by the Asst Minister yesterday. The hawkers also fully support my proposal to rebuild and restore the Gambier St. Market and to let them continue trading at the same market once ready for use. They have voiced their real concerns repeatedly to me, including loss of customers as many clients come from across river, wasted lifetime effort in building existing business goodwill, the distance they have to travel to the proposed new site at Tabuan Laru and the unknown rentals at the Tabuan Laru market which reportedly may be privatized. While the Hon Asst Minister has assured that the rentals would not be increased, we would like to know for how long. The concern of the hawkers is that the rentals would be increased soon and to exorbitant rates, thus eventually forcing them out of their livelihoods.

Apart from the hawkers’ refusal to be relocated, it has to be recognized that Gambier Street reflects the multicultural vibrancy of Kuching and Sarawak.

The diversity and cultural intermingling is something we should be celebrating and proud to show to our ever eager foreign tourists. Our Sarawak markets have their own uniqueness and exotic cultural flavour, just as those famed old markets in foreign cities, such as the buzzling Victoria Market in Melbourne CBD or Fremantle Market in West Australia, which I believe the Minister of Tourism and others would be familiar with.

Several historic buildings at the site deserve to be preserved, namely the Godown built in 1929, the vegetable market façade of 1935 and the old information office building.

As a retail business centre and a sampan ride from across-river, this place is intimately woven into the life of our own charming local people especially the kampong folks. Let us not take this wonderful aspect of their daily living from them. I therefore call for a serious rethink of the plans of the government for the area.

I have several issues which are equally important but which due to time I may have to raise later. Among them are that on that of crime and the recent spate of armed robberies in and around Kuching and elsewhere, which luckily has been covered very well by several YBs on both sides of the this August House. I only hope that the police will continue to increase their patrols and efforts to rid us of the armed gangs that are terrorizing us. In my area some houses have started to not only put barb wires on the tops of their fences but also to put up electric wires! Making them look like a war zone. Or some place in Iraq rather than in Sarawak.

Another area which I will not cover now due to time factor is that of my Motion on Funds for Chinese and Missionary schools, but I hope one day to get a good reply from the Honorable Minister from Bawan Assan on why he and his party has not risen to the occasion of supporting my Motion. I hope they will not wait till they are no longer in power!

I will also leave for a future time what I have called the “3 Wise Monkeys” of this August House!

I will also not for now venture into another area which I have already written up, which is that of the Legacy of our current CM, where I contemplate a post Taib era. WHICH IS COMING SOON!