Chong’s stall is now located within a coffeeshop close to the walkway where his family used to sell ‘char kuey teow’ for 64 years. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
HAVING his stove, table and other equipment carted away by the local council made Jon Chong decide it was time to move his stall off the five-foot way.
But, with his family having operated their famous char kuey teow stall on the walkway for 64 years, it has been difficult for Chong, 41, to do good business from within a nearby coffeeshop.
“I am a third generation char kuey teow hawker and my stall is known to be located along the Burma Road five-foot way.
“Two weeks ago, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) confiscated my stall.
Chong realised it was better to move his stall off the walkway.
“I understand why they did so, as that was not the first time I had been told to move my stall into the coffeeshop,” said Chong.
He had received a MBPP summons for RM250 for the offence in the previous week but had still not relocated his stall when the city council officers returned.
“I did not get the stall back and this cost me about RM1,000 in losses.
“I realised then that it was best to operate from within a coffeeshop,” he said.
Chong found that his business profits had dropped, as many customers think his stall was closed when they did not spot it along the walkway.
“It is not visible from the street anymore and you can only see me if you turn to look into the coffeeshop.
“I do hope my customers realise I am still in the same location but have moved into a shop.
“While I understand that the walkway needs to be kept vacant for pedestrians, it has been the location of my family’s stall for decades,” he rued.
John Anthony Kolandasamy, 33, who works in a sundry shop along the Pulau Tikus stretch, recalled that MBPP had issued him a warning for placing his bread cart along the five-foot way.
John says the right thing to do is to follow MBPP’s instructions.
“We had just relocated to this shoplot in January and had placed our bread cart right outside the shop shutters.
“MBPP told us the cart must be inside our shoplot but that makes business a bit difficult for us.
“When the cart is along the walkway, people notice it and tend to buy a bun or bread.
“Now they have to look into the shop to be able to see the cart,” he explained.
To be on the safe side, John said he would keep the cart within the shoplot.
“We do know that the city council conducts random checks and the right thing to do is follow their instructions as we do not want a summons,” he rationalised.
Penang island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said MBPP was ensuring five-foot ways were cleared of obstructions.
“It is a continuous effort to educate people to make walkways free for pedestrians.
“When we issue summons or warnings, the shops abide for one or two months but then move the items back onto the five-foot way after that.
“Sometimes, it is as simple as a newspaper stand or trolley, but other times, it is a hawker stall.
“Some traders have even cemented up the pathway to block it for their use,” he said.
Rajendran said MBPP usually issued errant traders a warning followed by a summons before the obstruction was confiscated.
“The traders may get their items back, depending on how many times they have committed the offence.
“If it is a trader’s third time offending, then MBPP will not return the items,” he said.
Rajendran said the council conducts random checks.
He said MBPP has received plenty of grouses from errant traders who had been issued summonses or had their items confiscated.
“It is important to create a safe pathway for pedestrians.
“When a five-foot way is uneven or has steps which make it difficult for pedestrians, the council creates walkways along the road.
“The downside is that these walkways are not covered,” he explained.
Rajendran said MBPP aimed to make Penang a pedestrian-friendly city with walkways that were safe even when it rained.
“Every year, the council spends a few million ringgit to create better walkways that are disabled- and elderly-friendly.
“This is why a lot of walkways and backlanes have been upgraded, but we do need people to cooperate with the council, and not extend their shops or place their stalls outside the shoplot premises,” he stressed.
