Datuk Keramat market needs attention due to its deplorable condition

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to resolve the redevelopment issues at Datuk Keramat Market, which has been in a poor condition and delayed for about six years.

According to Berita Harian, he said that the problem with Datuk Keramat Market arose when DBKL allocated the area to a developer to upgrade the market. However, the upgrade was not carried out within the specified time frame.

“So, I think we need to pay attention to Datuk Keramat Market because of its very poor condition.

“I have informed the Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, and the DBKL Mayor, Datuk Seri Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh, to address this issue,” he told reporters today.

Meanwhile, Johari, who is also the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, said that the developer involved did not carry out the market upgrade project.

He explained that when the developer failed to execute the project, DBKL could not proceed with it because the developer had already paid about 10 percent of the land value in the market area.

“Previously, DBKL sold the land in that area to the developer who wanted to develop the market.

“After I resumed my role as a representative in that area, I pressured DBKL to reclaim the land,” he said.

He further commented that DBKL has now resolved the issue.

“The developer has returned the land to DBKL and they have also reclaimed the deposit.

“It is now up to DBKL to manage and upgrade the market,” he said.