The Kelantan government was today reminded not to blame Uda Holdings so as to hide its failure in solving the relocation of 415 traders from the Pasar Arked Lambok Uda and Kota Baharu Municipal Council to the Tok Guru Bazaar.

Kota Baharu Umno division chief Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh said the PAS state government should not be accusing the investment holding and property development company of not drawing up a development plan for the arcade area when the actual solution was actually in the hands of the state government.

"The state government is trying to divert the issue to Uda Holdings when the real issue is that it has promised to sell the shop lots at Bazar Tok Guru at a low price and of suitable size," he said after handing over goodies and ang pow to 1,500 senior citizens from the Chinese community in conjunction with the Chinese New Year in Kota Baharu, today.

Mohd Fatmi, who is also the prime minister's political secretary, said in his discussion with Uda Holdings, he was informed that the company had some time ago submitted the development plan for the arcade area to the state government, but there had been no action.

He said Uda Holdings had also informed that in its initial plan, it wanted to build apartments, bazaar and shoplots at the arcade area and it had held discussions with the state government about temporarily relocating the traders.

"The state government informed then that it would build the Bazar Tok Guru to permanently place the traders and for Uda Holdings to only build the apartments.

"However, after the state government had issued the land title, state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, last Friday, claimed that Uda Holdings did not prepare the development plan and threatened to acquire back the land if the company fails to submit the plan soon," he said.

The Bazar Tok Guru issue surfaced when 415 traders who are supposed to move to the bazaar are unhappy with the state government, especially Menteri Besar Inc., for allegedly failing to keep its promise of selling 3.04m x 3.65m shoplots at RM40,000 per unit as the price has gone up to between RM80,000 and RM90,000 for a smaller lot of 1.82m x 2.4m.

Following this, Kelantan liaison chief Mustapa Mohamed, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, promised to help resolve the issue, but the solution actually lies with the state government.

Mohd Fatmi said Mustapa had a few days ago gave Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat a letter, asking that the issue be resolved.

- Bernama