DESPITE getting a permanent trading space after 19 years of moving from one site to another, not everything is hunky-dory for former Danau Kota Uptown night bazaar traders in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur.
They face various problems at their new premises, the four-storey Bazaria@Wangsa Maju complex in Jalan Genting Kelang built specially for them.
Although the complex provides a more organised and conducive business hub, the traders say the new complex is not being marketed to the public and they want promotional efforts from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
History of traders
Since 2006, the traders, about 800 of them at the time, operated by the roadside, some without a valid licence.
In 2009, they were asked to move to a temporary location after complaints about them causing disturbances and monopolising local council parking spaces in the commercial area.
After weeding out the illegal traders among the group, only 500 were selected and relocated to a site along Jalan 1/23E in Taman Setapak Indah in 2019.
They were then known as Bazaria Wangsa Maju traders.
They temporarily operated there for six years before moving to the Bazaria@Wangsa Maju complex this year.
Bazaria Wangsa Maju organising chairman Mohd Ramdzan Mohd Ziman said DBKL had not made enough promotional efforts to get the public to visit the complex.
“Regulars are already accustomed to the temporary trading site at Jalan 1/23E, which had been operating for six years before the traders moved to this complex.
“Despite buskers performing at the centre stage of the complex, it has not drawn enough of a crowd to the bazaar.
“In fact, some of the traders argued that the buskers were too loud and affected their business,” he said, adding that he has not been told of any plan to attract visitors to the area.
Mohd Ramdzan hoped DBKL would organise more community-centric events at the bazaar to drive more foot traffic to the area.
Diversifying the lots
About 500 licensed traders identified from the temporary site were supposed to move to the complex, but Mohd Ramdzan said only 390 had relocated.
He said some of those who did not pay maintenance fees at the previous location had refused to take up the lots at the complex, to avoid paying up their outstanding dues.
“There are also a handful of traders who refused to move in because they were assigned unfavourable lots through balloting, especially lots located far from the entrance.
“These empty lots can be an eyesore for visitors,” he said.
Mohd Ramdzan urged DBKL to conduct a census and cancel the licence of those not interested in trading at the complex.
He said the empty lots located far from the entrance could be rented to existing traders as storerooms.
“It can be a win-win situation where traders get more space and DBKL can continue to collect rent,” he pointed out.
According to traders, several structural problems surfaced after a month of operation.
During a site visit to the bazaar complex, StarMetro found some parts of the structures looking worn.
One of the two lifts was also not functioning.
Rainwater was found stagnant on the rooftop where the food and beverage traders operated, suggesting a need for proper drainage to divert the water away from the building.
Meanwhile, signboards that were supposed to showcase traders’ business and brand had also not been put up.
Safeguarding traders
While most trading lots have been occupied, Mohd Ramdzan claimed some lots had been rented out to foreigners.
“There are traders who rent the lots for as high as RM2,000 a month, while some lots are being sold for as high as RM25,000 each.
“These culprits have taken advantage of the lots rented to them by DBKL, to make a profit.
“I see foreigners operating at the food and beverage stalls, which should not be the case,” he said.
He added that DBKL should monitor the traders.
The bazaar occupies the ground and first floor of the complex while the rooftop space is for food and beverage traders.
Several food stalls are also occupying the ground floor, but they are not from the original group relocated from Jalan 1/23E in Taman Setapak Indah.
Mohd Ramdzan said traders from the rooftop were upset that the ground floor food traders have licence to operate between 7am and midnight.
“They are unhappy because the timing clashes with their operating hours that is from 7pm to 3am, creating potential competition among them,” he said, noting that the ground floor would generally get more customers than the rooftop.
“They want DBKL to reconsider the timing of the ground floor traders so that it will not clash with the rooftop food traders’ operations,” added Mohd Ramdzan.
StarMetro reached out to DBKL for comments on this matter but did not get a response at press time.
Rising foot traffic
Bazaria Wangsa Maju Traders Association advisor Andre Lai said most promotional efforts currently were by the traders themselves.
“Many traders are using social media platforms to promote the complex and their products.
“But on the other hand, approvals for promotional efforts do take time; I am sure DBKL has the resources to organise programmes in the bazaria complex,” said Lai, a former Kuala Lumpur City Hall Advisory Board member.
The new complex, he said, managed to garner 50% of the previous crowd from the temporary site.
“There is definitely increasing foot traffic in the area, but this should not stop the authorities from promoting the bazaar.
“When I visited the bazaar at 10pm once, there was barely any parking space inside the complex, and visitors thronged the bazaar, truly living up to its name as bazar larut malam or late-night bazaar.
“Promote this as a place of interest, so that traders living hand-to-mouth can benefit from their business,” he added.
On the previous transit site in Taman Setapak Indah, Lai said the land was originally a decommissioned sewage treatment plant.
“But in 2023, the land was given back to the Federal Government.
“There are no plans yet to develop the site,” he said.
Sources, however, revealed that several interested parties, including developers, are eyeing the plot located in a prime area.
“There are already some applications to develop the land,” the sources said.
Complex gets a thumbs up
Complex stakeholders said the upgraded facilities at the new complex presented a more organised and conducive business environment for both vendors and shoppers, offering food stalls, a surau, a management office, a futsal court and ample parking bays.
Traders praised the new complex as a more favourable location for them and their visitors.
Rafasya Scarf owner Intan Nur Hidaya Abdul Aziz said it provided a larger space for shoppers to look for their desired items.
“There is also a lot of parking bays in the complex and the huge fans on the ceiling provide a breezy and cool environment.
“Unlike the previous location, which was cramped and hot, these lots are also more systematic and organised,” she said.
Secondhand shoe seller Harinto Rashid, 46, said he had been trading since the bazaar was at Danau Kota Uptown.
“At Danau Kota Uptown, it was congested and difficult to find parking, which drove away many potential customers.
“When it rained, we lost the opportunity to sell our products, but at the Bazaria complex, we can still operate freely.
“Although we have moved from the previous locations, my regulars still managed to find me here and they are happy with the place,” he said.
Innerwear seller Connie Chong, 39, who has been trading for over 10 years, said the new complex was a blessing for both traders and customers.
“So far, I have not heard any negative comments from my customers.
“Despite being a little smaller in space, the complex provides not only a shopping haven for customers, but also a shelter for the traders.
“I am glad some of the regulars have managed to locate this new spot. I now juggle this store with online business,” she said.
Mohd Rashid Hashim, 37, who took his family to shop at the bazaar, said he used to go to the old site in Taman Setapak Indah and could not find enough parking spaces.
“Besides having ample parking bays, the new complex is so much more organised, making the shopping experience better.
“It is also a better place to shop with kids, as they can roam freely in a safe environment,” he added.
Another visitor, Sofia Diyana Rashid, 24, applauded the relocation of the bazaar.
“There are several big ceiling fans providing much-needed breeze in the hot and humid weather.
“After shopping, I can hang out at the rooftop and dine while enjoying the night view,” said Sofia.
