Najib to visit Sibu Central Market on Friday

Najib to visit Sibu Central Market on Friday

SIBU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to spend about an hour at the Sibu Central Market on Friday, joining the crowd in the hustle and bustle of what is believed to be the biggest public market in the country.

Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King said traders at the market were all very excited about the event.

"We also welcome local community leaders and the public to be present there before 7.30am as the prime minister and his entourage are expected to arrive at about 8am," he told a press conference after chairing the council's monthly meeting here today.

The market has 1,100 regular stalls and between 200 to 250 "tamu" or native stalls and is reputed to be the best managed in the country as well.

This will be Najib's third visit there, having visited it on Feb 23 and May 13, 2010.

Tiong, who is Lanang member of parliament, said Najib would join several hawkers for  breakfast.

"He will then go around the market to meet and exchange pleasantries with the crowd before proceeding to his next function, which is to declare open the SJKC Thai Kwang in Upper Lanang Road," he added.

The walkabout at the market is part of Najib's itinerary in his two-day visit to Sarawak from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, at today's meeting, Tiong expressed his disappointment over the lack of civic consciousness among some people here, which he said was still prevalent despite Sibu having developed into a modern township and the people's standard of living having improved tremendously.

"If you have a chance to be at any car park in town, you are bound to see a lot of tissue papers, used parking coupons, and cigarette boxes thrown around. If you drive, you will find drivers rushing through the amber and red traffic lights, vandalised traffic lights, drivers throwing rubbish out of their cars and dumping bulks by the roadside," he said.

He said there were also missing drain covers, shopkeepers sweeping rubbish into the drains in front of their shops and people throwing their cigarette butts on the floor. -- BERNAMA