IT IS the end of the road for food stall operators at Lorong Kerja Ayer Lama in Ampang, Selangor, as their appeals to continue operating at the present site have been denied by the local authority.
The traders have been told to relocate to a newly completed food court nearby, a move which, they say, would severely affect business.
The traders’ representative Parwiz Kausar said Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement officers sealed the nine stalls around midnight on Monday without warning.
“MPAJ came after the stalls were closed to seal our premises.
“We were told we had to move into the new food court before today as a launch would take place.
“Traders have been scrambling to sort out and move our belongings there,” he said.
Parwiz said traders made a last-ditch effort to appeal against their relocation by sending a letter to MPAJ on Jan 12.
“We were hoping to meet with MPAJ to discuss the possibility of postponing the relocation exercise to after Ramadan.
“We received MPAJ’s letter denying our request a day after our stalls were sealed,” he said, adding that traders should have been shown some compassion as they have been operating at the site for between 20 and 40 years.
The new Laman Selera MPAJ food court, located about 200m away from the current location, was built along with an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant adjacent to the site.
StarMetro had previously reported that traders were against the relocation for a number of reasons.
They said there was insufficient parking for visitors as most of the bays were utilised by office workers nearby.
With the AD facility being so close to the food court, they said the plant would emit foul smells, putting off visitors in the process.
They also voiced concerns that the proximity to Chinese and Hindu burial grounds could deter visitors too.
One stall operator, who was busy packing up, said he might have to let employees go once they moved to the new site.
“The food court lots are small and only fits two or three workers.
“Here, I could employ five workers and accommodate more diners,” said the operator who declined to be named.
Another long-time trader added that she will run her business at the new spot three to six months before deciding whether to continue.
MPAJ previously said traders would have to relocate as their current Lorong Kerja Ayer Lama site was not a designated trading area.
Once traders move out, it said the area would be turned into a parking lot for food court visitors.
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