He also called on traders and hawkers to demonstrate “a sense of ownership” in maintaining the markets and hawker centres, saying these places were their source of livelihood.

“I do not want Penang to have first-class infrastructure but third-class maintenance,” he said to reporters after a working visit to the Balik Pulau market with Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik and Penang Island City Council mayor Yew Tung Seang.

Chow said many people had complained about the poor maintenance of markets and hawker centres, including the lack of cleanliness and the delay in repairing faulty facilities.

He said over the past 10 years, the state government had improved the facilities at these places, adding that it was the duty of the local councils, traders and hawkers to undertake proper maintenance.

“I hope that over the next five years, the local councils will focus on the maintenance of these facilities so that they remain clean, green and safe for the people,” he said.