City Hall tears down structures in Chinatown

DBKL excavators tearing down the sheds used by traders at Lee Lam Thye Market in Jalan Tun HS Lee. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

Sheds at market in Jln Tun HS Lee make way for Pasar Karat traders

SEVERAL traders operating at a market in Jalan Tun HS Lee are upset with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for demolishing wooden sheds they were using, to make way for other traders.

The makeshift structures next to Lee Lam Thye Market, also known as Penjaja Gallery, were used by the traders to store equipment, utensils and ingredients. The supplies’ owners were left scrambling to collect their items when excavators arrived to start the demolition.

The sheds are situated beside an open space being used as a carpark.

The Pasar Karat traders will be relocated here to occupy the entire site. They are presently trading in Lorong Petaling.

Beverage seller Oh Sooi Peng said the traders at Lee Lam Thye Market were informed about the demolition less than a week ago.

“There was no engagement with us and we were not able to clear everything out.”

A noodle trader, who wanted to be known only as Wan, said the relocation of Pasar Karat traders would cause inconvenience to those currently doing business at the site.

“We park our cars and unload our stuff at the carpark.

Fong (left) says he will be meeting with the mayor on the issue.

“If the carpark is taken up by Pasar Karat traders, then where are we going to park?

“The private parking facility opposite the market charges RM5 for 30 minutes.

“We cannot afford to pay that rate,” she said.

Traders said two senior citizens who work at the market had been staying in the sheds that were demolished.

Another trader, who did not want to be named, said he had not managed to salvage all his possessions before the structures were demolished.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, who was at the site, agreed that the traders were not given enough time to act.

“I will be meeting Kuala Lumpur mayor (Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh) to sort out the matter.

“We will also be objecting to the relocation of the Pasar Karat traders as it will not benefit the ones already operating at the market,” he said.

DBKL did not comment on the matter at press time.