StarMetro’s report on the issue on Feb 9, 2024.
TAMAN Tasik Titiwangsa residents are angry over another extension to an order to vacate issued to an illegal food court in their housing area in Kuala Lumpur.
The operator was supposed to vacate by Feb 14 but has now been given until Feb 29 to do so.
The operator has been served three eviction notices by Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office (PTGWP).
The latest notice was issued on Feb 5, and StarMetro carried a report on this on Feb 9.
In a statement, PTGWP said the first notice was issued on April 8, 2023, and the second on Jan 4 this year.
It added that an investigation found several structures built illegally on government land including an eatery, workshop, surau and office.
A meeting was held to discuss the issue on Feb 9, involving the operator and agencies such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s office.
“Following the meeting, the operator agreed to vacate but asked for extra time to move wares from the site.
ALSO READ: Titiwangsa food court ordered to vacate by Feb 14
“The request was granted with Feb 29 as the new deadline,” said PTGWP, adding that the operator was to bear any cost involved.
However, the extension has drawn backlash from residents who want sterner action.
Resident Ng Man Fai said the lack of action despite multiple notices served created an impression of double standards.
“DBKL has carried out many raids on illegal roadside hawkers in nearby Jalan Kuantan but this food court has remained untouched,” he added.
Another resident, Wan Hilwanie Ariff, said multiple complaints to DBKL since October 2021 had fallen on deaf ears.
“After several engagements, in October 2023 DBKL finally said the eatery falls under PTGWP’s jurisdiction instead,” she said.
The issue gained attention after a StarMetro report on May 17, 2023, highlighting complaints by residents who were concerned about hygiene, traffic congestion and noise problems caused by the food court, which began operating in 2021.
DBKL had said that the eatery, which was operated by a non-profit group, was built without a development order.
However, the non-profit group, in a follow-up report on Aug 25, 2023, denied it was operating illegally, adding it was negotiating for approval with the authorities.
In a Dec 18 report, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s aide Datuk Azman Abidin said the food court was operating without a licence.
