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 04/08/2008:
Tiong unhappy over irresponsible answer of BDA officer to hawkers |
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| BINTULU:
Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing was unhappy with an officer of
Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) for pushing responsibity when hawkers
of Bintulu Hawker Centre pleaded to him to hire watchman to overcome frequent
break-ins there.
In a press statement, Tiong, who is also the chairman of the Back Bencher Club, was shocked that the officer had told the hawkers that the BDA had no money to hire the watchman, adding that it did not have such budget. "I am diappointed with the reply, because his statement is irresponsible and making the BDA sound so poor has tarnished the image of the authority." He felt the officer should have talked to his general manager first before he made such a reply to the hawkers. Tiong said the hawkers paid fees to the authority and the BDA had revenues to collect. "It is impossible for the officer to tell the hawkers that the BDA cannot provide such basic service." Tiong feared the current economic hardship that the people were facing might push the crime rates up. "Defintely, the two hawker centres in town have been targeted by the thieves. The other hawker centre is the Tamu Market." He said he had also received numerous complaints from the hawkers of Tamu Markets as well on the frequent thefts. He said he and Senator Pau Chiong Ung had met the officers of BDA, and they had told them that the matter would be brought to the attention of the general manager. Tiong was happy that their request had received the attention. "I hope BDA will consider hiring the watchmen at the two hawker centres." In the Bintulu Hawker Centre, he suggested two to be placed on the ground floor and another on the first floor. For the Tamu Market, he suggested two to be stationed there. Tiong said the hawkers had their right to request for the protection of their properties. He said in the break-ins, the thieves had made away not only with their goods, but, even their furnitures. |
