Jalan Wangsa Melawati 3 roadside stalls a nuisance, say residents

Residents say the roadside stalls are encroaching onto Jalan Wangsa Melawati 3. — ONG SOON HIN/The Star

Hawkers operating along Jalan Wangsa Melawati 3 in Taman Wangsa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, are endangering motorists and their customers, say residents.

The residents further claim that the number of traders operating on the pedestrian walkway has been increasing every year.

According to the residents, the neighbourhood – which borders Kuala Lumpur and Selangor – has some 200 residential properties and the roads have high traffic volume.

“The makeshift stalls are encroaching onto the road and some tables and chairs are now placed on the road.

“This not only obstructs traffic flow, but also poses a risk to those eating there,” said a resident who only wanted to be known as Raj Kumar.

“Some of these stalls may be licensed, but the operators are breaking multiple by-laws here,” he said.

Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, wrote to StarMetro about nearly knocking into a child recently as the child’s parents were busy buying food at the stalls.

“The problem is worse during peak hours,’’ he said, stressing that it is a daily struggle for residents who use this road.

He noted that more stalls had mushroomed there since the Covid-19 movement restrictions were lifted.

Hasan Mohamed, who lives nearby, questioned why busy roads with traffic-light junctions were allowed to become hawker sites.

“Even the bus stop has been taken over by the hawkers,” he pointed out.

He also wanted to know why traders were allowed to leave behind permanent structures, canopy and their belongings at the site.

“Is this not a violation of their trading conditions?” he asked.

Residents complained that the rat population had increased in the area because hawkers dumped leftover food into the drains.

Many traders are operating with a temporary licence issued by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) under its Free Trade Zone initiative.

DBKL has been grappling with this issue following complaints about hygiene, obstruction and traffic congestion, including sub-letting of licences to foreigners.

Recently, DBKL and the former Federal Territories ministry gave traders operating under the initiative until the end of June, making this the fourth extension since it was introduced on Nov 10, 2020.

Wangsa Siaga Residents Association chairman Col (R) Mohamad Fuzi Taib confirmed that numerous complaints had been made to DBKL on the matter.

“I have done everything I can to highlight this matter to DBKL and the mayor.

“But this is one problem that does not seem to go away,” he added.

According to Mohamad Fuzi, it started with only seven traders and it had since grown to dozens.

“It is so out of control now,” he said.

When contacted, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan said DBKL was going to review and rearrange roadside stalls in the area.

“There will be no Ramadan bazaars in the area this year.

“I was told that DBKL is fine-tuning the guidelines,’’ he said.

StarMetro was unable to get a response from DBKL at press time.