GEORGE TOWN, Oct 7 – Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow hold a press conference on Tuesday morning said a total of 28 stalls who will be undermined by the proposed redevelopment of New World Park (NWP) while they will be relocated to a piece of land opposite the current location which will relocated at Jalan Bawasah dan Lorong Swatow.
He said the discussions are ongoing with the landowner there to do so. Meanwhile, he also stressed that any development would maintain the heritage and architectural value of the space which spans 2.02ha but was coy about what the redevelopment would entail.
PBB Property Development Sdn Bhd Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chew Hwei Yeow said the company recognised the popularity of the food court and will be working closely with hawkers to allay their concerns. In the same time, he said that they will have to finalise what can or cannot be done with the local authorities first when he asked about reports of a 20-storey hotel to be built on the spot at the conference with Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
Indian Muslim mee goreng (fried noodles) seller Kader Mydin, 51, also echoed similar sentiments. He said that he he took over the business from his uncle who has been dishing out the spicy dish for over forty years after they moved in to the current premises. He added that his current business is quite good and hope that all will be fine.
Besides that, the popular ais kacang and fruit stall owner Lee Eng Lai, 68, said that his grandfather started selling the local delicacy in the early 1920s at Lorong Swatow here where the current food court is located and inherited the business from his father. He said when met at the stall that times change and places will change along too. Lastly he added that they hope for the best.
