Petaling Street traders ignore DBKL deadline

In a huff: Ang (centre) with Petaling Street traders who are protesting against the letters of undertaking sent to them by DBKL.

PETALING JAYA: Traders, up in arms over what they claim is an unfair licence requirement by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), have ignored a deadline set by the authority.

The more than 770 traders in Petaling Street also want to meet the mayor over the issue, which is about a letter of undertaking sent to them by DBKL.

They have to sign the letter, acknowledging that they must follow every rule stated in it or their licence can be revoked without prior notice.

DBKL issued the letter on Nov 16 and they were told to sign it by Nov 18. In protest, none of the traders has met the deadline.

The letter states that only the trader or a legitimate helper can man the stall; foreign workers are not allowed to, among other rules.

It also states that the trader cannot sell, rent or sub-let the stall.

Foreign workers are also only allowed to carry goods, push trolleys or load, unload and store goods an hour before the start of the business day and an hour after closing.

Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said it was unfair that Petaling Street traders were singled out for this.

It was also unreasonable to revoke a ­trader’s licence without prior warning, he said.

He pointed out that previously, traders had 14 days to appeal if DBKL wanted to revoke their licence.

“But now, they can revoke the licence immediately. It does not make sense,” he said.

Federal Territory Bumiputra Tra­ders president Datuk Rosli Sulaiman said he was not aware of DBKL’s letter of undertaking.

But he said that its contents, as reported, would be a concern and would need to be discussed by its members.

“We are concerned with the rule that ­foreign workers can only help traders with loading, unloading, storing and carrying of goods. And at certain times only.

“This will be unfair to the traders. How do you expect us to pay the foreign workers?” he said.

However, Rosli supported the rule that forbade foreign workers from manning the stall.

Little India Traders representative G. Guna­segaran said its members received the letter some months ago and that they were still mulling it over.

“We want discussions with DBKL so that we can provide our feedback,” he said.