FOUR out of six stalls at a seafood food court in Parit Karang Laut, Muar have shut down their operations following the dwindling number of patrons.
| POOR MAINTENANCE: The entrance to the Medan Ikan Bakar food court is full of cracks and potholes on the tarred road. This has put off customers from frequenting the eatery. |
The remaining two may also follow suit, as business has been declining for the past six months.
The Medan Ikan Bakar food court was built by the Parit Karang Fisherman Economic Association and the state government at a cost of RM500,000. It was set up as one of the district's tourist destination spots in 2006.
A fisherman, Josri Alwi, said there were many public amenities provided there, such as lamp posts, recreational spots and a three-kilometre tarred road from Jalan Tanjung Gading Laut to Kesang.
"However, since six months ago, the food court has been receiving few customers. I think it has to do with the sloppy maintenance of the facilities. For example, you can see potholes everywhere on the tarred road," he said.
Checks revealed that cracks and potholes have been left unattended by the local authority.
Parit Karang Fisherman Economic Association adviser Norizan Mahat said people used to throng the food court. He said people from as far as Singapore and Tangkak came to the food court for freshly grilled seafood.
"Many have opted to shut their business to avoid further losses," he said.
Meanwhile, the association's chairman Yahya Baba said people were turned off by the facilities that were not well-maintained.
"The roads are damaged and repair works have yet to take place. People don't want to come here looking at all this," he said.
Yahya said the contractors who developed the area had promised to commence repair works soon, but nothing has been done so far.
SOURCE: JOHOR BUZZ, NEW STRAITS TIMES, 4 DECEMBER 2008
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