The Johor government wants the Bazar Karat flea market in the heart of this city to remain as a tourism product.

State Tourism, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Liow Cai Tung said she also wanted it to have its own identity to better reflect the state.

"It is located in the heart of the city in an area that draws in tourists. I would prefer the products sold there better reflect the identity of Johor than of other states to attract more tourists," she said after opening the Twenty-Four Seasons Drum Museum. Also present was the museum's founder Tan Chai Puan.

She said that she would be raising the matter with Johor Bahru mayor Datuk Amran A Rahman as it came under his jurisdiction.

Earlier today, Amran had refuted rumours that the market would be closed and that in fact there were plans to "rejuvenate" it to attract more domestic and foreign tourists.