Ampang traders given enough notice to relocate to new site, says MPAJ

Operators from the old trading site in Lorong Kerja Ayer Lama have been relocated to the new Laman Selera MPAJ @ Ampang Jaya nearby. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

FOOD stall operators at Lorong Kerja Ayer Lama in Ampang, Selangor have been notified since last year to relocate to a new food court nearby, says Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).

In a statement, MPAJ Public Relations and Secretariat Division head Norhayati Ahmad said the operators were given three notices since March last year to ensure they had adequate time to prepare to move to the new facility.

“The last notice was sent in November and another meeting took place on Jan 6 where traders agreed to relocate.

“The selection of stall lots was also voluntarily done by the traders during the Jan 6 session,” she said.

Norhayati added that traders were given the keys to their stalls on Jan 13 and 16 to allow them to move in and start operations.

StarMetro recently reported that nine traders were left scrambling to remove their belongings after MPAJ enforcement officers sealed off their premises, leaving them with only two days to move out.

The new Laman Selera MPAJ @ Ampang Jaya food court, located about 200m away from the current location, was built along with an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant adjacent to the site.

Norhayati said traders had to be relocated as the old site would be turned into parking spaces, which would help ease traffic congestion along Jalan Kolam Ayer Lama.

“MPAJ also received multiple complaints about lack of cleanliness at the old premises, such as dirty drains caused by leftover food and oil from stalls,” she said.

Norhayati added that traders from the previous site had cooperated and moved into the stalls and kiosks at the food court.

MPAJ is allowing traders to remove their belongings from the old premises before it is demolished. It is learnt that the stalls are expected to be demolished in February.