DBKL postponed order to beautify buildings

The paint on the side of a building where Merchant’s Lane cafe and Kiat Leong Stationery and Trading are located is dirty and peeling off.

BUSINESS owners along Jalan Petaling in Kuala Lumpur are upset and frustrated as they have been given notices to repaint the exterior of their rented shoplots.

They said the notices issued by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) during Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) were untimely and insensitive as most businesses were closed because of the pandemic.

It was illogical for DBKL, they said, to serve such notices as they were unable to find contractors to paint their buildings as the current standard operating procedure only allowed essential service businesses to operate.

According to the DBKL notice issued under Section 75 of the Local Government Act 1976, a check conducted on June 18 found that the paint on the exterior of buildings along Jalan Petaling was dirty and peeling off.

The notice also compelled the building tenant to wash or repaint the building’s exterior with quality paint within 30 days.

Ang urges building occupiers to appeal to the mayor’s office for an extension of time.

Section 75 of the Act states that if such order is not complied with, the occupier can be fined not exceeding RM1,000 or jailed not more than six months or both upon conviction.

Occupiers also risk an additional fine not exceeding RM100 for each day after conviction until the order is complied with.

Merchant’s Lane cafe owner Kenneth Tan highlighted the ill-timed notice issued by DBKL on his social media and complained that it was difficult to hire a contractor for the paint job.

“I have spoken to some of the contractors and none of them dare take up the job.

“They fear that they might get fined by the authorities for carrying out non-essential maintenance work during the first phase of the NRP.

“Secondly, a majority of businesses here are closed or on the verge of closing and receiving the notice is just frustrating,” he said.

Tan added that DBKL issued the notice to Kiat Leong Stationery and Trading on July 30, which operates below his cafe.

“Both the stationery shop and my cafe occupy the same lot and we are responsible for the upkeep of the building,” he said.

The stationery shop’s person-in-charge LY See Tho, 71, said affected business owners were writing a letter of appeal to DBKL.

“We have received similar notices in previous years to beautify the shoplots in conjunction with Merdeka Day on Aug 31 and I think the intention is the same this year.

“However, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused much financial burden to businesses and the notice is an added pressure on us.

“We hope DBKL can consider waiving this notice,” she said.

Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said the notice was uncalled for at this time.

“Although DBKL can exercise its right to issue the notices, it should not do so during a period when businesses are suffering.

“We objected to the move and urge the building occupiers to appeal to the mayor’s office for time extension.

“The association will also help traders and shoplot tenants address disputes with the authorities,” he told StarMetro.

Ang added that the association had also repeatedly asked DBKL to assist in the repainting of the buildings but to no avail.

“The buildings are old and repainting would give a fresher outlook to Petaling Street,” he said.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun said he would highlight the matter to Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Mahadi Che Ngah.

“It is insensitive to issue the notices to business owners.

“DBKL should instead give some incentives to these business owners in terms of licence fee waiver during this tough time,” he said.

When contacted, a DBKL spokesperson said that enforcement (as stated in the notices) would be put off to a later date due to the ongoing pandemic to ensure building owners had enough time to repaint the buildings.

“Under the City Beautification Programme, DBKL ensures that the quality of building maintenance is in line with the KL Indah initiative.

“The programme involves 200 premises at Lorong Petaling, Lorong Sultan and Lorong Bandar.

“Out of all the premises, 16 building owners were issued notices to ensure that the buildings are clean and in safe condition,” the spokesperson said, adding that DBKL was responsible for monitoring and enforcing the laws stated in the Act.