FOR the past two weeks, Madam Kelly Lim has had trouble sleeping at night.

Flower seller Loh Yong Hup is upset that his stall at the temporary market will be between two pork stalls. He feels it will affect his business.

The 41-year-old, who runs a beancurd stall at Tekka Market is worried about the impact that upcoming renovation at the market will have on her business.

From 1 May, the popular Serangoon Road wet market will be closed for about 16 months.

The stallholders will operate at temporary premises on Race Course Road until work is completed.

But many stallholders have already complained about the temporary market's space constraints, though construction is still going on.

Each stall is only 2m by 2m (about the size of a HDB flat toilet) - an area they say is far too small for their equipment, workers and products.

Madam Lim is worried about the lack of space for her two helpers - her sister and daughter.

About 25 stallholders were present when The New Paper spoke to them at the site yesterday morning.

Mutton seller Mohamad Suban, 55, said that on 28 Mar, the stallholders received an official letter instructing them to vacate the market by 30 Apr.

At a meeting last year, they were told that each stall at the temporary market would cost $4,500.

No mention was made of the stalls' dimensions, said Mr Mohamad.

Mr Lim Bok Thiam, who sells poultry and frozen food, shows how narrow the gap between two stalls is at the temporary market.

The stallholders assumed that they would be identical to those in the temporary markets at Chinatown and Geylang, and did not raise the issue.

According to several Tekka Market stallholders, the stalls there have dimensions of about 2.4m by 2.4m (an area of about 5.8 sq m) and 3.7m by 3.7m (or 13.7 sq m) respectively.

But when they first visited the Race Course Road site on 31 Mar, they said they were 'shocked' to see that the stalls were smaller than they had expected.

Said Mr Mohammad: 'We've been in the business for a long time. With one look, we can tell whether things will fit in the stall.'

He has been working at his family's stall at Tekka Market for more than 30 years.

The stallholders said they had approached various parties asking for changes, but were told it would not be possible.

Lamented a chicken seller, who wanted to be known only as Madam Zamela: 'Ten years ago, I spent $25,000 on an icebox to store my meat.

'Now, my stall is too small and the icebox cannot fit. Am I supposed to buy another one just because of this?'

Stallholders also had concerns about security and fire safety in the temporary market.

Also, would they have to worry about pickpockets if the small market gets too crowded?

'CUSTOMER DISCOMFORT'

Customers will also find it uncomfortable navigating the narrow aisles between stalls, said spice shop owner Rejina Begum.

Also of concern is the location of particular stalls.

Stallholders said that a ballot had been held on 31 Mar to determine the location of each stall.

But the ballot slips had not been divided according to the type of product the stalls sell.

Said Madam Lim, whose beancurd stall will be situated between two pork stalls: 'Many of my customers are Muslim. If I work beside a stall selling minced pork, will they buy my beancurd?'

Mr Loh Yong Hup, who sells flowers, said his stall is also between stalls selling meat.

He complained in Mandarin: 'How can they do this? The flowers are often used for prayers.'

Stallholders point out that they have also incurred additional costs during the course of construction.

For instance, those who wanted the wiring altered to suit their individual needs had to pay $80 more, they said.

When contacted, Mr Johnny Chia, chairman of the Tekka Market Friendly Association, said that the unfavourable layout of stalls sometimes could not be helped, given the sheer number ofstalls.

The association has been holding regular meetings with the parties involved, and ensuring the smooth progression of construction, he added.

He also said the stalls' dimensions are the norm for temporary markets.

The National Environment Agency could not be contacted by press time to confirm the dimensions of the stalls at the Chinatown and Geylang markets.

As of now, the stallholders seem resigned to the temporary market's limitations.

Mr Lim Bok Thiam, 46, who sells poultry and frozen food, expects his business to fall by about 30 per cent.

But he is mentally prepared for that.

He just hopes his regular customers will continue to support him.

He said: 'We don't need luxury, just a comfortable place to work in.

'If changes cannot be made now, we at least hope others won't have to suffer so much during future renovations.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on April 8, 2008.