SANDAKAN: Five Ramadan bazaars managed by the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) have opened in conjunction with the fasting month.
MPS President Walter Kenson said the locations are Jalan Coastal in Sandakan town centre with 154 lots, Sejati Walk Batu 7 (100 lots), Bandar Sibuga Jaya Batu 8 (116 lots), Tamu Gum-Gum Batu 16 (69 lots) and Agrobazaar Batu 32 (21 lots).
He said MPS has also approved four privately managed bazaars at Bataras Hypermarket Bandar Utama IJM (100 lots), Sandakan Sports Complex (30 lots), Masjid Nurrusyakirin Indah Jaya (20 lots) and Bandar Nam Tung (16 lots).
Walter said this year MPS abolished the bidding or tender system for bazaar lots and replaced it with a fair and transparent ballot system, adding that cheaper and reasonable permit charges would help stabilise food and beverage prices.
He said MPS has also introduced a 30 per cent quota for youths to encourage their participation in small-scale business at the Ramadan bazaars.
Two new rural locations, Tamu Gum-Gum and Agrobazaar Batu 32, were introduced to stimulate the rural economy and ease local logistics, he said when contacted on Thursday.