An end to KL’s popular festive bazaars

The festive bazaars in Jalan Masjid India are usually held leading up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali.

IT IS official. There will be no more festive bazaars in Jalan Masjid India and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur.

Mayor Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) decided to do away with the bazaars after a string of unresolved issues over the years of its existence.

“We will not allow any more Ramadan or Deepavali bazaars in Jalan Masjid India, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman and its surrounding areas.

“There are too many complaints and it is very difficult to manage. Previously, the bazaar lots were given to traders associations but there were complaints of mismanagement and that the lots were rented out for huge profits instead of going to poor traders,” he said.

The Ramadan bazaar, which started in 2003 with about 100 stalls saw its last this year, amid an uproar over middlemen making handsome profits from subletting trading lots, despite various efforts by DBKL to stop the practice.

Amin Nordin says the decision to stop the bazaars follows several unresolved issues over the years.

“About five years ago, we decided that the traders must apply directly with DBKL instead and the lots were distributed in a balloting process.

“However, without an association overseeing the bazaar, the management of the stalls took a turn for the worse especially where cleanliness was concerned,” Amin Nordin said.

The mayor said throughout the period of the bazaars, the entire area was in a mess with rubbish strewn all over the place and illegal stalls being set up.

“There was an incident where one of our enforcement officers was splashed with hot oil while doing his rounds.

“Business owners have also been complaining about loss of revenue due to the stalls blocking their entrance.

“After all, the items sold at the stalls can be bought from the shops. So, there is no need for the bazaar,” he said.

When asked about the fate of the night market every Saturday in Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Amin Nordin said it would remain.

“Festive bazaar traders are mostly controlled by wholesale suppliers but night market traders are small-time petty traders. Depriving them of a day’s business is messing with their rice bowl.

“I will discuss if there is a dire need to relocate them. For now, the night market will continue,” he said.

Masjid India Business Owners Association (Miba) president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said he was thankful to the mayor for granting their request to put a stop to bazaars in the area.

“With no more bazaars, DBKL has solved one big problem and it should now focus on weeding out illegal stalls.

“Just take a walk down the street and you can see peddlers selling toys, food and just about anything,” Ameer said.

However, he added that the night market should also be relocated.

“So much of the taxpayers’ money has been spent for the River of Life project. Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman got a facelift with an extended walkway, beautifying and resurfacing.

“But with the night market still in operation, the area still gets very dirty although it is only for a day,” he said, claiming that traders poured used oil into flower pots and littered the area.

“The cramped condition on Saturday evenings also makes Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman a fire hazard,” he said.

Ameer also hoped that DBKL would consider Miba’s suggestions for Jalan Masjid India to be made part of the River of Life project.

“We are very happy that Jalan Masjid India is going to be turned into a promenade, but we still need one lane for traffic for drop-offs and pick-ups.

“Completely closing off the stretch to vehicles will not be suitable for some of the businesses here such as jewellery shops and hotels.

“DBKL has done it in Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, so we just want the same model here in Jalan Masjid India,” he said.