Ravindran says the issue has been raised repeatedly over the years but remains unresolved.
LOCAL Indian trade groups are urging Johor government to intervene and protect local operators, specifically calling for a ban on expo organisers holding their events in the three months leading up to Deepavali.
Johor Baru Little India Cultural Association chairman Datuk N. Nilaraja said the frequent influx of expos, which typically bring in traders and goods directly from India, was a long-standing sore point among local businesses.
He explained that the lower prices and immediate availability of imported items severely affected the livelihood of traders who relied on the festive season for a substantial boost in sales.
“This issue has been going on for years and it has really affected local businesses, especially those who depend on the festive season to boost their income,” said Nilaraja.
“When these expos come in just a few months or even weeks before Deepavali, shoppers tend to flock there instead of supporting our local traders. As a result, many of our businesses suffer losses during what should be the busiest period of the year.”
Nilaraja said the association had brought the matter to the attention of Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who reportedly agreed to look into the issue.
“We are hopeful that the state government will assist us and take firm action to prevent this from happening next year onwards,” he added.
Nilaraja says such expos have long been a sore point among local businesses.
Nilaraja noted that while the Jalan Ungku Puan Deepavali bazaar, which is organised under his association, had seen increased crowds this year, the numbers could be higher.
“When expos are held too close to the festival, they divide customer attention and weaken the market here in Little India.
“We want to protect the community’s long-standing trade culture and ensure that the local economy continues to benefit Johoreans,” he reiterated.
Echoing this sentiment was Johor Indian Petty Traders and Small Business Association chairman D. Ravindran, who said the problem had been raised repeatedly over the years but remained unresolved.
“Every year, we face the same problem. These expos come in just before Deepavali and take away a big chunk of our customers,” Ravindran said, calling for decisive action.
“We hope that the government will step in by not allowing such large expos to obtain permits to run their events within three months before Deepavali.”
Ravindran stressed that while the association welcomed healthy competition, the timing of such events placed small local traders at a significant disadvantage.
“Most of our members have small businesses, and they rely on the festive season to cover their yearly expenses. When these expos offer similar products at cheaper prices just before Deepavali, our members struggle to compete.
“We want a fair chance. Let the local community benefit from the festival too.”
Ravindran also observed that the Deepavali bazaar in Tampoi was seeing improved sales this year, noting: “The crowd may drop when it rains, but once it stops, we can see people flocking to the bazaar again.
“We expect the crowd to grow even more by the end of this coming weekend.” — By VENESA DEVI
