Source: Google Street View

The long-awaited redevelopment of the Bukit Mertajam town market has moved forward with piling work for a multi-storey car park along Jalan Pegawai scheduled to begin today.

Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Bernard Cheen Goon Hooi said the car park, located next to the existing market, will serve as a temporary trading space for over 300 traders during the construction of the new market. Traders are expected to relocate by July next year, with the full project targeted for completion by July 2027.

Originally planned as a two-storey market, the design was revised to a single-storey structure following feedback from traders, who feared reduced customer traffic on the upper floor. “We listened to the traders’ concerns and made adjustments to ensure the new market benefits everyone,” Cheen explained.

The existing market, built in 1967, has long struggled with ageing infrastructure. Calls for redevelopment intensified after a fire in 2014 damaged the section known as the “Pasar Rooftop.” In 2023, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming confirmed RM24 million in funding to modernise the facility.

The redevelopment plan includes a permanent new market, a temporary trading area, the multi-storey car park, upgraded public facilities, and a community centre within the market grounds.

To ensure the best design, MBSP and the Northern Chapter of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) launched a nationwide competition, which attracted 75 entries.

Once completed, the project is expected to revitalise Bukit Mertajam’s historic trading hub, offering traders and visitors a safer, more modern, and community-friendly environment.

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