Market traders want mayor to step in

Traders say the current situation has led to a mess in the carpark.

THE TAMAN Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) Market Traders’ Association wants Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to intervene over the market’s parking problems.

StarMetro recently highlighted a conflict brewing between traders at the TTDI wet market in Kuala Lumpur and the carpark operator.

Traders claim that the carpark operator was mismanaging the parking bays to maximise profits.

They allege that the operator charged a fee for vehicles that double and triple-parked and rented some bays on a monthly basis.

Association chairman Jenny Loo said they tried to discuss the issue with the carpark operator but could not reach an amicable solution.

“We tried and nothing materialised. I hope the mayor and DBKL will help us resolve the problem once and for all,” she said, adding that the association urged DBKL to conduct a site visit to understand the parking predicament.

TTD I Residents‘ Association chairman Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar (left) addressing those present while Loo (centre) looks on.

 

Loo said they would submit a proposal to DBKL to operate the parking space at the market.

“We will discuss how to do it with the TTDI Residents’ Association first,” she said.

She said the traders had the necessary experience in running the carpark as they had done so for nine months in 2012.

“However, a private operator took over the management without any notice,” she said, adding that there had been no problems when the traders managed the carpark.

“Even though there was double-parking, we would talk to the customers first to find out how long they would take and we would then ask them to park accordingly, to ensure no one was blocked.

“We also never accepted car keys from the customers,” she said, pointing out that this was what the current operator was doing.

Meanwhile, Shaari Ahmad Junid, the former special officer to two former Kuala Lumpur mayors, supported the traders’ association’s suggestions to take over the parking operation.

“When they were doing it previously, it was good.

“City Hall should meet them halfway on this matter,” Shaari, who has lived in TTDI since 1974.

Meanwhile, TTDI Residents’ Association chairman Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar said the association supported Loo and felt she would do what was right in regards to the parking situation.

“It is good if the traders’ association wants to convince DBKL to let them run the parking space.

“The only thing we have to ensure is that the traders run the parking space as discussed and not go back on their word,” he said.

He added that they would look into meeting DBKL to take a look at the agreement it had with the current parking operator.

“We will see what is stipulated and if it is being followed,” he said.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was also present, said he had been told that the parking operator’s agreement with DBKL would expire this year.

“I will try to raise the matter with the mayor. If not, I will bring it up in Parliament next month,” he said.