By YIP YOKE TENG
GUESS how many rats died of poison baits placed at the Section 17/21 wet market by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) last month? 140.
And this 30-year-old open air market is regarded by many to have the most fresh seafood in the city.
Following reports of the alarming filthiness at the market in StarMetro during its Hygiene Campaign on Oct 20, Nov 10 and Nov 17, the traders are finally setting out to make the market cleaner.
Eyesore: Lee (right) lashing out at the culprits, believed to be
hawkers and restaurant operators, who have contributed to creating
this disgusting heap of garbage near the Section 17/21 wet market.
It is hoped that the rodent colony will soon be wiped out at the popular market.
The traders teamed up with 10 MBPJ workers in a gotong-royong on Monday to clean up the puddle-ridden streets and dug perishables out of the dirt-caked drains. The council provided two water tankers.
The stall operators had unanimously agreed to each fork out RM30 a month to hire an additional worker to clean the market every day, from 6am to 2pm. Now, there is only one worker doing the job on a part-time basis. Each trader pays between RM12 and RM15 for the service.
They will also form a committee to monitor the market’s cleanliness.
Working together: Traders of the Section 17/21 wet market cleaning the area.
“We have had regular cleaning-up sessions like this every month since about two years ago, but the problem still exists,” vegetable seller Low Guai Hwa said. Low blamed the unhealthy situation on a few selfish and inconsiderate traders who simply discard refuse into the drains.
Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee said the MBPJ would first resurface the roads riddled with potholes, while its engineering department would conduct a feasibility study into building a concrete floor.
“If it is suitable and not too expensive, the council will go ahead with the plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, a developer had expressed interest in building an indoor market in the neighbourhood. Lee said the proposal was being discussed and assessed.
He said the council would re-install a CCTV in the market to prevent traders and consumers from littering.
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