MUKAH: Cobblers in Mukah need a proper place to conduct their business. One of them Wahab Razak when met by New Sarawak Tribune yesterday really looks forward to a plan by a local representative to upgrade the former bus station area here into such venue.
If the new location is claimed to be more comfortable, he certainly welcomed the plan, the 55-year-old father pointed out.
“I agree with any plan by the local representative to upgrade the area which I believe is a good alternative,” he said.
Wahab, who has been repairing foot wears for more than 10 years, hoped that the current daily RM2 space rental charged by Dalat and Mukah District Council (MDDM) to be maintained.
He argued that if the rental is to be increased, he might prefer his old location.
The far-sighted Wahab also suggested that upon the completion of upgrading works, the allocation of trading space or lot to be conducted on cast ballot basis, to ensure transparency.
He even suggested that the building be semi-open, meaning that about 50 percent of the wall of the lower part would be concrete, while the upper part would consist of something like transparent glass or plastic wall with good ventilation.
Last Wednesday Tellian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo went on a walkabout at the former bus station in the old town here to see the possibility of upgrading the area, to include a proper place for cobblers to conduct their business.
Yussibnosh said the upgrading project would commence soon and to be financed by minor rural project (MRP) fund, while MDDM would implement it.
Currently, the former bus station is used as taxi and car park and also occasionally used as trading site for selling durians and other jungle produce.
It is located less than 100 metres from the location of the two cobblers, who are currently operating at the narrow walk-way of the MDDM-owned dry market.
