Al fresco dining is popular in the capital city, but there are concerns about tables and chairs blocking pedestrian walkways. — Filepic
POLICIES allowing outdoor dining in Kuala Lumpur can be reconsidered or scrapped to stop public walkways from being cluttered with tables and chairs.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said although there has been continuous action against errant restaurant and food stall operators who did this, the problem persisted.
“I understand there are policies that allow operators to place tables and chairs outside their premises.
“However, some of them apply for permission to place 10, but have 30 tables and chairs on public spaces instead.
“Do we need to eliminate these policies and state that walkways are strictly for pedestrians only?
“Do we need a new policy that states if an operator is caught violating this principle three times, we can directly shut down the premises?
Maimunah (at the rostrum) fielding questions during the town hall session on DBKL’s Budget 2026. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
“All these can be done, but your support is needed,” she told attendees at a town hall session on Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Budget 2026 at Institut Latihan DBKL, Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Maimunah later told reporters that the reconsideration of policies related to outdoor dining would need to be done comprehensively.
Hawker-related issues took centre stage during the town hall session with some suggesting that DBKL move roadside hawkers to vacant lots at existing food courts.
Maimunah said DBKL had the facilities in place but some hawkers refused to be relocated there.
“We can always force them, but we prefer to be more considerate.
“We will form a task force to help facilitate the relocation of roadside hawkers into these empty spaces.
“With fewer hawkers obstructing public spaces, pedestrians can enjoy better connectivity,” she said.
The town hall session was attended by about 100 people from the MPs’ offices, residents’ representative councils and non-governmental organisations, among others.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Traders Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman, who was an attendee, said the environment in some markets in Kuala Lumpur were not conducive for hawkers.
“For example, more than 1,200 hawkers in Pudu are facing problems of bad odour and clogged drains every day.
“Similar problems are also occurring in some markets in Sentul, Chow Kit and Dato Keramat,” he said.
“We have so many skyscrapers in the city but still lack comfortable spaces for hawkers to trade.
“DBKL should pay attention to this issue in its Budget 2026,” he suggested.
Maimunah responded by urging hawkers to also play a role and take care of the cleanliness of their premises.
“I am not trying to be defensive here, but if we want to have a world-class city, we need to have a world-class attitude.
“Although DBKL has programmes to educate hawkers on hygiene, they would also need to take care of cleanliness.
“If there isn’t enough infrastructure, we can discuss and include it in the budget,” she said, adding that hawkers sometimes do not maintain infrastructure provided to them such as grease traps.
Asked about a foreign tourist’s viral video of motorcyclists riding on a five-foot way in the city and endangering pedestrians, Maimunah said inter-agency efforts are required to curb the menace.
She added that although DBKL could take action against abuse of pedestrian walkways, enforcement by police and Road Transport Department (JPJ) was required.
