DEEPAVALI bazaar traders whose tents were damaged on Wednesday (Oct 1) after heavy rain and strong winds in Little India, Brickfields, will receive new, more durable canopies within two days.
Special task officer to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Sivamalar Genapathy, told StarMetro that traders will get sturdier 10ft by 10ft marquee tents courtesy of Bank Rakyat.
“The first batch of tents was the result of a miscommunication and we apologise for that. The latest batch is much sturdier and safer for traders,” she added.
She said that the new tents will be up within the next two days to ensure everyone can trade comfortably and safely.
Sivamalar said this to address the uproar over the bazaar’s new management system, saying most complaints came from a small group of ineligible traders.
“The complaints came from a few people barred from applying for a temporary licence because they owe Kuala Lumpur City Hall thousands of ringgit in unpaid fees from previous bazaars,” she said.
“In fact, one trader alone owes up to RM5,000,” she added.
Sivamalar said that the DBKL online system does not allow those with outstanding dues to take part.
She added the system will automatically reject applicants who owe unpaid fees.
Sivamalar said another small group did not apply for a trading licence this year but still bought goods to sell.
“We tried to accommodate them by offering another nearby location, but they refused,” she said.
“They insisted on trading in front of the Little India stretch, but those lots have been allocated to traders who applied and took part in the balloting exercise,” added Sivamalar.
“It would not be fair to take the lots away from them,” she said.
This year marks the first time in more than a decade that DBKL has taken full control of the festive bazaar under a policy to centralise management of festive markets.
The move follows years of disputes over lot distribution previously handled by traders’ associations.
The Deepavali bazaar runs until October 19 and features 140 stalls along Jalan Bunus, Masjid India, Jalan Tun Sambanthan and Jalan Rakyat.
DBKL announced that several roads in Kuala Lumpur will be closed from now until October 19 for the 2025 Deepavali Bazaar.
The affected roads are parts of Jalan Bonus 6 (Masjid India), Jalan Rakyat, Jalan Tun Sambanthan (in front of Sentral Suites), Jalan Tun Sambanthan (in front of Little India) and Lorong Chan Ah Tong.
DBKL said the temporary closures are to ensure smooth traffic management and safety around the festive bazaar while creating a lively, secure atmosphere for shoppers and traders.
Motorists are advised to plan journeys early, use alternative routes or opt for public transport to avoid congestion during the period.
