SUBANG Jaya City Council (MBSJ) is the only local council in Selangor that does not allow any structures such as tents or tables to be left overnight at Ramadan bazaars under its purview, says deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali.
"This is a matter of hygiene and (not obstructing a) public space.
"We don't want the bazaars to attract pests or block traffic flow," he said after chairing MBSJ's full board meeting on Wednesday (March 29) at its headquarters in USJ5, Subang Jaya.
"Our enforcement officers will be strict about this and remove structures left at Ramadan bazaars if they come across any.
"We won't issue any warning as traders have been told about this as part of their pre-bazaar briefing earlier this month."
Mohd Zulkurnain cited the USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar at Jalan USJ 4/5, Subang Jaya as an example.
"It is a Ramadan bazaar location in the evening, but a public road at other times. Traders there have to remove all the structures so that the road is clear," he said.
On enforcement at Ramadan bazaars, Mohd Zulkurnain said MBSJ also carries out regular checks to ensure traders comply with its guidelines.
"It is mandatory for all traders to not use polystyrene packaging and plastic straws, to incorporate ewallets as a form of cashless payment and for all food handlers to wear face masks.
"The face mask requirement is a state government directive for hygiene reasons. Traders are also free to use any ewallet vendor of their choice.
"These measures are implemented across all 26 Ramadan bazaar locations under MBSJ, with a total of 1,144 traders," he said, adding that MBSJ had offered 10 additional locations this year.
Last year, it managed Ramadan bazaars at 16 locations.
Mohd Zulkurnain said traders found flouting regulations would be reprimanded, and repeat offenders could be blacklisted from applying for a Ramadan bazaar trading spot in future.
