SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) would be managing five Ramadan bazaar locations this year, offering a total of 460 lots to traders.
MPS President, Walter Kenson, revealed the bazaars are situated at Jalan Coastal (154 lots), Sejati Walk Batu 7 (100 lots), Bandar Sibuga Jaya Batu 8 (116 lots), Tamu Gum-Gum Batu 16 (69 lots), and Agrobazaar Batu 32 (21 lots).
According to him, in addition to these five main bazaars, the council approved four supplementary bazaars to be managed privately. These four locations are at Bataras Hypermarket Bandar Utama IJM (100 lots), Sandakan Sports Complex (30 lots), Nurrusyakirin Indah Jaya Mosque (20 lots), and Bandar Nam Tung (16 lots).
Furthermore, Walter stated that MPS abolished the bidding or tender system and replaced it with a transparent lottery draw system. This measure is aimed to ensure fairness for all traders and help stabilize food prices through lower permit fees.
He added that for this year, 30 percent of the total lots provided were specifically allocated for the youth. This initiative is intended to encourage young people’s participation in entrepreneurship, particularly in small-scale businesses.
Additionally, two new locations in rural areas, namely Tamu Gum-Gum and Agrobazaar Batu 32, have been introduced. Walter explained that this was to further stimulate economic activity in rural areas and improve logistics and access for local residents.
In conjunction with the bazaar preparations, he also reminded traders to always comply with the stipulated regulations, maintain cleanliness at their premises, and ensure the food sold is safe and reasonably priced.
Walter also called upon the public to support the open bazaars and advised consumers to spend wisely to avoid waste. – James Leong
Walter said MPS abolished the bidding or tender system and replaced it with
a transparent lottery draw system.
