Shops on the second floor sealed by DBKL due to trader inactivity.
TRADERS at Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot in Chow Kit are urging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to waive their monthly rental until the entire redevelopment project in the area is completed.
The new complex, completed last year, is only the second of four phases in the project.
Persatuan Penjaja-Penjaja dan Peniaga-Peniaga Kecil Kawasan Chow Kit chairman Yuesnaedy Idrus said foot traffic at the complex was poor.
“Some traders barely earn more than RM100 a day.
Yuesnaedy says some traders earn less than RM100 a day.
“They can’t cope with the monthly rent, which ranges from RM300 to RM900,” he said.
Yuesnaedy said chicken and fish stall traders at the wet section were charged RM300 for rental while those renting stalls that come with a store pay RM450 to RM900, depending on the size.
He suggested that DBKL waive or reduce the monthly rental until the redevelopment of Pasar Raja Bot was completed.
The first phase of the Pasar Raja Bot revamp, completed in 2016, introduced a roofed structure for the vegetable and fruit market.
Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot was the second phase.
Phase three is expected to include a similar building next to the complex, while the last phase will see the construction of a multi-storey carpark.
“While the construction of phases three and four is still ongoing, foot traffic has not returned to the market,” Yuesnaedy said.
“Why not wait until the other market complex is completed before charging us rent?”
During StarMetro’s visit to the market, not many customers were seen at the stalls.
Food stall owners on the second floor were seen sitting idly, waiting for customers.
On the second floor, many stalls were closed.
Notices from DBKL were posted on the roller shutters of these stores, indicating they had been sealed due to trader inactivity.
Stall owner Chen Zhung Wun, who sells plastic goods in the market, said he had trouble sustaining his business.
“On a bad day, I made only RM60 and this was barely enough to pay for the utilities.
“The monthly rental is going to hurt us further,” he said.
Chew checking unsold threadfin fish that is being preserved with salt to prevent spoilage.
Association secretary Chew Meng Leong said some of the fish traders, who were facing slow business, were forced to make salted fish from their unsold fish.
“These were threadfin which are quite expensive fish.
“It is a waste but that is the only way the fish traders could cut their losses.”
Chew also said there were complaints that wholesalers outside the market were selling perishables at wholesale price to customers even though they were not buying in bulk.
“We hope DBKL will act on this as it is hurting the market traders’ business,” he said.
DBKL had not responded at press time.
