SANDAKAN : – Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Sandakan leaders, led by Vice President Thomas Lau Chi Keong, visited Sandakan Central Market on Sept 18, to understand the challenges faced by traders, particularly the severe water and electricity supply issues.
Traders expressed strong dissatisfaction with the upcoming three-week market closure for upgrades, which will halt their income.
They questioned Sandakan Municipal Council’s lack of periodic maintenance and demanded a temporary trading site and at least one month’s rent reduction to ease the financial burden.
Lau pledged to bring these concerns to Sandakan Municipal Council, stressing that hawkers’ livelihoods must be protected during the project.
He promised to negotiate for a temporary site and appropriate rent relief.
During the visit, a hawker also urged continued pursuit of the MA63 agreement, emphasizing the right to 40% of annual tax revenue returned to Sabah, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Lau affirmed SAPP’s commitment to this goal.
