Fencing continues to keep patrons away from Kepong’s Glutton St

Lew (left), Yee (third from left) and other traders say the fencing along Jalan Kepong Baru impedes customers from accessing their stalls.

THE fence along the side of Jalan Kepong Baru, popularly known as wai sek kai (Glutton Street) in Kuala Lumpur, has been blamed by traders for hampering their business.

They claim the 200m-long fence is hindering access of customers coming from the main road.

Previously, the traders had highlighted the inconvenience caused by the fence and in response, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) created six openings.

However, this only benefitted traders operating near the openings, they claim.

Traders located further away, took to dismantling part of the fence to create additional openings.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping said the traders who took off the fence were slapped with summons by DBKL.

Traders are proposing that bollards be placed around critical junctions like Jalan Ambong 4.

“It is a double whammy for them. First, their business was affected and now they had to pay the summons,” he said, adding that three traders were each fined RM2,000 for violating the Vandalism (Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur) By-Law 1991.

“The traders are also requesting that DBKL restore parking spaces at certain locations along Jalan Kepong Baru and remove parking bays that are too close to junctions, which can potentially create blind spots for motorists.

“To address safety and traffic concerns, the traders proposed several measures, including the installation of speed bumps along Jalan Kepong Baru and the placement of bollards around critical junctions like Jalan Ambong 4,” said Yee.

Trader Lew Kok Wei said his business had declined since the fence installation as customers found it inconvenient.

“Without being near an opening in the fence, running our business and unloading stores is extremely difficult.

“Since the fence was installed, my business has dropped by 80%.

“Previously, I operated from 8am to 10pm, but now my hours have been reduced from 9am to 5pm,” he said.

Lew said the six openings were too few and hampered customers from accessing the stalls.

“So I dismantled the fence but was fined by DBKL.

“We want DBKL to open at least two more segments of the fence, to improve accessibility,” Lew added.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng’s assistant Dic Lai said Lim’s office was working on a win-win solution to solve traffic congestion and ensure the traders’ business was not affected.

“We negotiated with the traders and agreed about the fence openings.

“However, the traders should not dismantle the fence themselves, so DBKL has the right to take action,” he told StarMetro.

Lai said he would continue working with DBKL to address traffic congestion in the area.

“Jalan Kepong Baru is a main road but vehicles double-parking on the roadside are causing traffic congestion.