LIKE a cat with nine lives, the popular Ali Cafe Tomyam Seafood restaurant at Jalan Pantai Baru, Bangsar has managed to save itself from being demolished, yet again.
The restaurant, built illegally without authorisation from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office (PPTGWP), and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), has been saved from the bulldozer, thanks to Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s new policy to enable restaurants affected by Covid-19 to carry on business during the recovery movement control order period (MCO).
PPTGWP director Muhammad Yasir Yahya said the agency was currently processing the application to legalise the eatery which had been operating on a road divider for several years.
“Yes, we are working on the paperwork to legalise the outlet, and the operator has applied for a permit to carry on the business,’’ he said.
“While we are aware that they have been operating illegally, with no licence to do business or approval to construct the structure on the land, nevertheless, with the new policy by the FT Minister to lend a helping hand to local businesses during this challenging time, we are allowing it,’’ said Muhammad Yasir.
He, however, added the cafe operator must ensure that there was no obstruction and no blocking of pedestrian walkways and vehicles.
“As long as they don’t break the law, we will allow it,’’ Muhammad Yasir said.
“In fact if the government wants the land back for a road widening project, he has to go. The Ali Cafe owner knows he has no proprietary right to the land and that this is merely a temporary measure by the government to help local businesses to spur the economy.
StarMetro reported last year that the government was going to demolish the eatery which was illegally built on government land.
Government agencies like DBKL and PPTGWP have been embroiled in a tug-of-war between residents who do not want the cafe to be there and politicians who want it to remain for over 10 years now.
Several years ago when the
restaurant was carrying out
renovations, DBKL and the land office was instructed to demolish the structure.
But at the eleventh hour the operation was stopped by a high ranking official.
Since then many operations to demolish the restaurant have been similarly hampered.
Last year, then FT Minister Khalid Abdul Samad exposed several similar high-profile cases in Kuala Lumpur of illegal structures built on government space and ordered the demolition of Ali Cafe.
DBKL was told not to renew the eatery’s licence when it expired and PPTGWP issued a notice to the owner to vacate the land.
The restaurant, located next to the Pantai fire station, is built on top of a road divider on a road reserve.
The two-storey structure with facilities such as toilets and a surau, had undergone massive renovations to the tune of RM3mil.
Meanwhile when contacted, DBKL Licensing and Hawker Development Department director Khairul Anuar Mhd Juri said the department had not received any official letter from PPTGWP on Ali Cafe’s status.
“With no official letter from the PTG, no licence can be issued as of now,’’ he said.
DBKL has been providing temporary permits to hawkers to do business in the city to enable them to carry out business activities during the recovery MCO to help them earn some income.
However, despite not having a licence and permit to operate, Ali Cafe seems to be doing very well as the place was packed with patrons during lunch hour recently.
Apart from dine-ins, they were also operating take-away services.
The restaurant, built illegally without authorisation from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office (PPTGWP), and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), has been saved from the bulldozer, thanks to Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s new policy to enable restaurants affected by Covid-19 to carry on business during the recovery movement control order period (MCO).
PPTGWP director Muhammad Yasir Yahya said the agency was currently processing the application to legalise the eatery which had been operating on a road divider for several years.
“Yes, we are working on the paperwork to legalise the outlet, and the operator has applied for a permit to carry on the business,’’ he said.
“While we are aware that they have been operating illegally, with no licence to do business or approval to construct the structure on the land, nevertheless, with the new policy by the FT Minister to lend a helping hand to local businesses during this challenging time, we are allowing it,’’ said Muhammad Yasir.
He, however, added the cafe operator must ensure that there was no obstruction and no blocking of pedestrian walkways and vehicles.
“As long as they don’t break the law, we will allow it,’’ Muhammad Yasir said.
“In fact if the government wants the land back for a road widening project, he has to go. The Ali Cafe owner knows he has no proprietary right to the land and that this is merely a temporary measure by the government to help local businesses to spur the economy.
StarMetro reported last year that the government was going to demolish the eatery which was illegally built on government land.
Government agencies like DBKL and PPTGWP have been embroiled in a tug-of-war between residents who do not want the cafe to be there and politicians who want it to remain for over 10 years now.
Several years ago when the
restaurant was carrying out
renovations, DBKL and the land office was instructed to demolish the structure.
But at the eleventh hour the operation was stopped by a high ranking official.
Since then many operations to demolish the restaurant have been similarly hampered.
Last year, then FT Minister Khalid Abdul Samad exposed several similar high-profile cases in Kuala Lumpur of illegal structures built on government space and ordered the demolition of Ali Cafe.
DBKL was told not to renew the eatery’s licence when it expired and PPTGWP issued a notice to the owner to vacate the land.
The restaurant, located next to the Pantai fire station, is built on top of a road divider on a road reserve.
The two-storey structure with facilities such as toilets and a surau, had undergone massive renovations to the tune of RM3mil.
Meanwhile when contacted, DBKL Licensing and Hawker Development Department director Khairul Anuar Mhd Juri said the department had not received any official letter from PPTGWP on Ali Cafe’s status.
“With no official letter from the PTG, no licence can be issued as of now,’’ he said.
DBKL has been providing temporary permits to hawkers to do business in the city to enable them to carry out business activities during the recovery MCO to help them earn some income.
However, despite not having a licence and permit to operate, Ali Cafe seems to be doing very well as the place was packed with patrons during lunch hour recently.
Apart from dine-ins, they were also operating take-away services.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
Ali Cafe Tomyam Seafood was built on a road divider and underwent a RM3mil renovation. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
StarMetro’s front cover on Aug 22 last year.
