Complaints over stall size, allocation at Kepong Baru morning market

Teh (right) says some clothing traders are unhappy with the smaller size of their lots at the Kepong Baru morning market.

ALL is not well at the Kepong Baru morning market, which has resumed operations at its former site in Jalan Bangau following a relocation.

Some 40 traders complained that they were not given their original spot, while others said the size of the lot was too small to place their goods.Kepong Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Deric Teh said these traders were unhappy that they were placed further away from the main road.

“They are upset that their old spots were given to newer traders, who have only been operating there for a few years.

“Some clothing traders also want a bigger lot to put their items, ” he added.

The area had undergone a drainage upgrade last year, affecting parts of Jalan Bangau and Jalan Bangau 1.

The RM1.5mil project by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was to resolve floods caused by clogged drains.

During the upgrade, traders at the 50-year-old market were temporarily relocated to other parts of Jalan Bangau 1 and Jalan Camar.

The traders started moving back to their original site in stages earlier this week and are now operating from their “refurbished” location.

Teh said traders were also unhappy that they now had to pay a daily fee of RM10 to another association that was managing the market.

“This amount is on top of another RM3 daily fee for cleaning, ” he said during a press conference organised by Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng’s office.

Also present was Lim’s political secretary Yew Jia Haur.

Yew said a letter would be sent to Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa on the matter.

When contacted, Kepong Community Service Centre head Yee Poh Ping said DBKL had standardised the stall size to 8sq ft (0.74sq m) after the upgrading.

On the unhappiness among traders over their new spots, Yee said priority had been given to poultry and fish sellers to operate by a drain so they could easily discharge their wastewater.

He added that the lot size for clothing traders was determined based on their licence.

“Some were given an extra lot or two depending on their licence, ” said Yee.

He explained that the RM10 fee was to pay Rela personnel stationed at the market to enforce Covid-19 standard operating procedures.