PUTATAN, After nearly four years of anticipation, traders in the district will soon benefit from a more conducive pasar tamu (weekly market) as they transition to the new Tamu Putatan. The project to rebuild the market at a new location, with a total cost of RM10 million, was completed on Dec 1 of last year and the construction took three years and two months to complete. The new market site features a total of 239 lots, including 24 wet stalls for fish, seafood, chicken, and meat; 36 semi-dry stalls for vegetables and fruits; 172 temporary lots; and seven food stalls. Food trader Talhata Laurun, 58, expressed her satisfaction with the new business facilities, praising the market for being well-organised, suitable, and comfortable. 'I hope that many visitors will come here so that we can increase our income,' she told Bernama during the Tamu Putatan project handover ceremony here, today. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming witnessed the handover of the Tamu Putatan project from Local Gover nment Department director-general Datuk Mohd Fadzli Mohd Kenali to Putatan District Council president Masawi Salleh. Talhata, who has been in the food business for 20 years, expressed her approval of the new site and welcomed the relocation and hoped that this would be a permanent solution for the traders, who have previously faced frequent moves from one location to another. Vegetable seller Theresa Ajin, 63, also praised the new market facility, noting that the previous one left traders exposed to the elements, including intense heat and rain. She hopes that additional parking spaces will be provided to better accommodate visitors. 'I'm not sure yet when we will start operating at the new location; we are awaiting a decision from the Putatan District Council. So far, I'm pleased with the new market,' she said. Meanwhile, Nga when speaking at the ceremony, emphasised the importance of the project, highlighting its role in replacing the existing site and offering traders a more comfortable and efficient e nvironment for their business activities. He expressed hope that the improved, more orderly, and spacious facility would benefit both traders and visitors alike. Nga also urged the Putatan District Council to maintain the market effectively, manage its facilities well, and ensure reasonable rental rates to support the local economy and provide comfort to traders. Source: BERNAMA News Agency