KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) has allocated RM10 million for the development and upgrading of 41Tamu Markets in Sabah this year. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said of the amount, RM7.6 million has been spent for the upgrade of 38 Tamu Markets. The upgrading work is in progress and is expected to be completed this year, he said in a statement today. He said the other three Tamu markets, at Kinabatangan, Menggerimot and the Pasar Tamu Rancangan Belia Tiulon are in the stage of documentation. He said the markets are upgraded for the convienece of shoppers and traders there. Each Tamu Market has 150 traders. "This effort reflects the commitment of the Federal Government to improve the facilities and comfort of visitors at the Tamu Market while maintaining the local cultural elements that are the unique identity of the community in the state," he said. He said that as of last year, FAMA had spent RM5.36 million to upgrade six Ta mu Markets, namely Pasar Tamu Sook in Keningau, Pasar Tamu Dataran Tomborungus in Kudat, Pasar Tamu Kunak, Pasar Tamu Beluran, Pasar Tamu Tuaran and Pasar Tamu Telupid. Source: BERNAMA News Agency