LABUAN: The latest proposal by Labuan Corporation to build a temporary pork market downtown is expected to solve the problem of pork sellers that has dragged on for over six months.

“Among the several suggestions made by LC, the best alternative is the construction of a temporary pork market at the vacant land near the Barter Trade Jetty along Jalan Merdeka,” MCA Federal Territories exco member Datuk Yew Tiong Look told The Borneo Post yesterday.

The problem started when the six local pork sellers defied the order by LC to move out of the old main market downtown and shift to the new pork market at Kampung Sungai Keling because they were concerned that the new location would adversely affect their business.

Following the sealing of their old premises on January 1 and the attempted demolition of the stalls there, the pork traders began setting up makeshift mobile stalls at the Jati Shophose open space with the consent of the owner of the private property.

When requests to move the business back to the old market were rejected by LC, the issue was brought up to the ministerial level by MCA. In February, a decision was made by the Cabinet that the new Central Market that is under construction and expected to be completed in about two years time would include a permanent facility for the sale of pork.

The words “Pork Market” has since then been removed from the signboard at Kampung Sungai Keling.

Meanwhile Labuan MCA chairman Chin Hong Vui yesterday concurred with Yew that they are glad the new LC chairman Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talip is sincere in finding a win-win solution by proposing the construction of the temporary facility for the interim period.

The end to the pork traders’ plight of trading under unsuitable conditions may soon be in sight as the LC chairman has suggested that the construction of the temporary outlet can be completed within two months, according to Yew and Chin.

“The final confirmation would be made between the Federal Territories Ministry and the MCA headquarters,” they said.