A TOTAL of 48 sites under the Lestari Niaga 2026 Programme (Lestari Niaga) have been completed, with 100 more targeted for completion this year.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said the programme, which received a RM200mil government allocation, aims to upgrade 287 locations across the city, including 224 roadside stalls, 55 mayor’s assets and eight markets.
“This year, RM134mil of the RM200mil allocation has been spent. The remaining RM66mil will be spent next year to upgrade more than 50 sites, with 17 in the planning stage,” he told a press conference at Pasar Batu 2 1/2, Jalan Ipoh here on Tuesday (Nov 10).
“The sites to be completed this year are all roadside stalls. They will be turned into trading kiosks and enhanced with modernised aesthetics.
“Stalls that require cooking will be granted a 3.05m x 3.05m kiosk, while those where no cooking is done will get 2.44m x 2.44m kiosks.”
Pasar Batu 2 1/2 is one of the four markets targeted under Lestari Niaga that has been successfully upgraded.
Fadlun said it currently has 22 lots, 13 of which are occupied.
“We are actively promoting the market to attract traders to fill the remaining lots,” he said.
Asked about the limited parking bays at the market, Fadlun said DBKL will consider allowing marketgoers some leeway to park their vehicles along the roadside of Jalan Ipoh.
“We will communicate with the Enforcement Department about this,” he added.
The other three completed markets are Pasar Ikan Emas, Pasar Air Panas and Pasar Borong Kuala Lumpur.
Fadlun said the upgrades for the remaining four targeted markets – Pasar Lee Lam Thye, Pasar Lengkuas, Pasar Jinjang and Pasar Raja Bot – will also be completed this year.
“The programme is expected to benefit more than 11,000 traders in Kuala Lumpur,” he added.
Also present were Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh and Batu MP P. Prabakaran.
Asked about Umno’s questions over the RM55mil allocated for 22km of covered pedestrian walkways in Kuala Lumpur, which the party considers too expensive, Yeoh clarified that the figure was only an estimate.
“This is the first time we are conducting a project of this scale. On the ground, works such as diverting utility cables and vacating existing sites may be needed to avoid disruptions to the walkways.
“Every MP in Kuala Lumpur will propose a 2km stretch in their constituency, and costs will differ by location.
“Once the locations are approved, the project will go through the tender process before a final cost is decided. If Umno wants to (query) the cost, it can do so later, but not now, as this is only an estimate,” she said.
The project is reportedly set to begin in January.
Batu Umno chief Datuk Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakin had questioned the size of the budget, urging that the critical needs of city residents be prioritised and assessed based on official data.
