The new morning market along Jalan 13/155C, Bukit Jalil that operates every weekend which some residents are against. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/ The Star
SEVERAL resident groups in Bukit Jalil are requesting Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to relocate a new weekend morning market along Jalan 13/155C.
They claim the market has dirtied the road since it first started on May 28 and caused traffic obstruction as it blocked the main road leading to Residensi Jalilmas.
The groups representing some 2,500 households are from Residensi Jalilmas, Jalil Sutera, Jalil Damai Apartment, Seri Jalil, Sri Rakyat Apartment and Laman Bayu.
DBKL allowed a three-month trial from May 28 to Aug 27 following the objections, but some residents are already upset and confident that this will not work.
Residensi Jalilmas Management Committee chairman Muhammad Hakim Roslan said the market operations forced motorists to use alternative routes that were narrow.
Those routes, he said, would also be difficult for emergency vehicles to drive through.
“Some market visitors are parking their vehicles along the roadside, obstructing traffic.
“There are about 100 stalls occupying about 100m of the road now.
“More stalls may open up in the future as the road stretches all the way to the entrance to the apartment,” he said, adding that this would also result in haphazard parking at the area.
Muhammad Hakim said a survey among 1,796 residents showed 88.6% of them objected to the market’s location.
“We were never consulted on the need for a market.
“The market organiser claims to have done a survey but we have no knowledge of this.
“DBKL also did a survey in May, but the results have not been revealed.
“Anyway, we are not against the market, only its location,” he said.
Jalil Damai Apartment chairman Kam Yew Wai said some motorists were also risking their lives by driving on the opposite side of the road during the road closure.
Resident Fong Kok Sang, 60, said the operations might seem fine during the trial period because of constant monitoring by the organiser and authorities, but there was no guarantee that it would always be the case.
Speaking on behalf of the market organiser, Kuala Lumpur Market Hawkers and Petty Traders Association secretary Muhammad Azraie Abdul Malek said the current location was a quiet road on weekends and suitable for the market.
He said their survey with 10,000 respondents prior to proposing the location to DBKL last year showed that there was a need for a morning market.
“I am sure DBKL had a basis for giving us the approval.
“The alternative roads being narrow is due to haphazard parking and this should be addressed by the authorities.
“On cleanliness, we have been working with Alam Flora to ensure cleanliness in the area,” he said, adding that they also helped clear some existing clogged drains.
Kuala Lumpur Market Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Alvin Ng Yew Wai said residents should have compassion for petty traders who were hit hard during the movement control order due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A vegetable trader at the market, Richard Tan, said many residents were happy to have the market, but were afraid of being shunned by their own resident bodies.
Market visitor Micheal Ng said the market area was always clean.
“The people against the market are likely worried it will lower their property price, although it is not so,” he said.
Another resident, Paul Chong, said the market gave him the chance to shop at leisure.
In a statement, DBKL said based on its monitoring and observation, the market operations were under control.
“Jalan 16/155C was identified and agreed as the alternative road for the surrounding residents to use to access their houses during the market’s operating hours.
“The matter was made known and agreed upon during an engagement session with the objectors’ representatives on May 24.
“The market organiser and Seputeh MP office representative were also present.
“DBKL also facilitated the cleaning works involving Alam Flora Sdn Bhd cleaning contractors.
“However, the onus is on the market organiser to ensure cleanliness is maintained during and after the market operation,” the statement read.
DBKL, however, would take into consideration alternative locations suggested by some objectors, namely Taman Bukit Jalil carpark opposite Calvary Convention Centre, Awan Besar LRT station carpark and the Ramadan bazaar site near Paragon Heights.
