PENAMPANG: A total of 72 small traders from Kepayan Square began preparing for a temporary relocation this week, as construction work starts on long-awaited upgrade to the public market space.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the Government is taking steps to ensure that traders continue to earn a living while improvements are made to their work environment.
At a handover ceremony on Tuesday, Ewon distributed canopies, tables and chairs to the affected traders, who will move to a temporary trading site nearby for the next few months.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“We want to ensure that even during this transition, their livelihood is protected,” he said. “This is about providing a safer and more comfortable space for the community to trade in the long run.”
The RM2.4 million upgrade is being jointly funded by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), City Hall (DBKK) and the Kapayan state constituency.
KPKT and DBKK are each contributing RM1 million, while Kapayan Assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang is allocating RM400,000 from her constituency fund.
Ewon said planning for the project started after he was elected Penampang MP in 2022, when he and Jannie visited the site with DBKK officials to assess its condition.
“What we saw back then was that the traders needed more than just shelter from the sun and rain. The space needed proper facilities, a roof, better flooring and proper drainage,” he said.
He thanked Jannie for taking the lead in pushing for the project and raising the matter with the KPKT Minister Nga Kor Ming.
“This is a good example of what can happen when local and federal leaders work together,” he said.
Jannie said the upgrade was something she had been pursuing since 2019, after hearing concerns directly from the traders. She said the location has always served more than just commercial purposes.
“This space is not just about business. It’s a place where people meet, talk, share food and build connection.
“Once it has a proper roof and layout, it can serve the whole community during festive seasons, government programmes or even just a normal weekend,” she said.
Also present were DBKK Deputy Director-General (Operations) Robert Lipon and local leaders involved in coordinating the relocation plan.