A stall operating with a restaurant licence and taking up a sizeable portion of the walkway along Jalan Sepadu in Kuala Lumpur. — Filepic
STREET vendors operating on pedestrian walkways in Jalan Sepadu, Taman United, Kuala Lumpur will have their licences revoked for violating licensing conditions.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said investigations found that five static traders were operating on the walkway and causing traffic congestion.
“Investigations on June 5 found that two traders had premises licences, two did not have licences and one was operating on a limited time licence.
“During the operation, they were issued three compound notices under Section 46(1) of the Street, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 for leaving items in public places and two notices under Licensing of Hawkers (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-law 2016 for operating without a valid licence,” DBKL said in a statement.
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It added that one trader had cleared the structures during a follow up enforcement on June 21.
In Brickfields, DBKL said five traders operating on pedestrian walkways along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad would be relocated to more suitable locations or hawker centres.
“These traders have valid licences under the KL Madani licence programme and licence for static roadside stalls to conduct business.
“Two foreign traders had their items confiscated during an operation in the area in April this year.”
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DBKL issued six compound notices under the same Act as well as Section 20(1) of the Licensing of Hawkers by-law for exceeding the maximum size of the stall.
This follows a series of reports by StarMetro.The reports highlighted Kuala Lumpur residents’ call for a ban on roadside traders operating on pedestrian walkways, especially those with tactile blocks meant to guide the visually impaired.
In an immediate response, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said DBKL would carry out enforcement and relocate traders strategically to ensure pedestrian pathways remain accessible and safe for all.
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In the “KL walkways to be free of traders” report, she said that there had been an increase in street vendors because of the Free Trade Zone initiative introduced by a former minister after the Covid-19 pandemic.
DBKL guidelines generally do not allow hawkers to operate on pedestrian walkways, unless there are no obstructions.
However, hundreds of licensed roadside hawkers have been operating on pedestrian walkways with tactile blocks in Kuala Lumpur.
Tactile blocks are textured paving surfaces featuring a series of bumps that are designed to help visually impaired pedestrians.
