Plan to breathe new life into market

The Star, Friday, 4 August 2017
BY CHONG KAH YUAN

THE state government is working on a solution to keep the Little Penang Street Market going.

The market held at Upper Penang Road has just marked its 11th anniversary but its future is now uncertain after the organising committee members expressed their wish to retire.

State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he was open to new ideas on how to use the space.

“I am sure I was not the only one with mixed feelings when the committee announced that the 11th anniversary would be the last,” said Chow before taking part in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion at the market on Sunday.

“I have met with council Community Service Department director Rashidah (Jalaludin) to discuss the next step and to persuade the committee to continue.

“Maybe we can come up with a new concept for the space. There is still a lot of room for negotiation.”

Chow said he wanted the market to come back after a break with new concepts for the community to showcase their art and craft and hold cultural performances.

Tunku Zaleha Tunku Yusoff, 63, who sold painted glass at the market, said she would be sad to see the market go as she plied her trade there for six years before she moved to Kuala Lumpur.

“I made a lot of friends at the market,” she said.

Retired teacher Ee Choo Teck, 82, also has a soft spot for the market as it was the place where he first started selling his folded paper aeroplanes.

“It was just a hobby at first but I found my paper aeroplanes attracted a lot of interest from visitors,” said Ee.

Art teacher Liza Nichols, 43, brought her 10-year-old daughter to the event to show support after hearing that the market might be closing down.

“It has been a few years since my last visit and I am surprised by how much it has developed over the years.

“The market has become a nice space for artists and young entrepreneurs to showcase their artworks and products,” she said.