Chowrasta traders want rent and business licence exemption

Traders at Chowrasta Market want the Penang City Council (MBPP) to exempt them from paying business licence and stall rental as they claim MBPP has been slow in upgrading the market.

Komtar assemblyman, Teh Lai Heng said the traders' demand was valid as the process of upgrading the market since 2013 had been extended for too long, resulting in traders having to suffer losses. "The noise and dust from construction works have driven many customers away from Chowrasta Market," he told a press conference with the Chowrasta Market Traders Association here Sunday.

Meanwhile, the association's chairman Mohamed Nasir Mohideen said most of the traders had lost more than 50 per cent of their business since the upgrading works began.

"We want MBPP to exempt all market traders from rent and business licence starting January until the upgrading process is over according to the new completion date on Nov 30 as issued by MBPP," he said.