PUTRAJAYA: Ramadan bazaar traders in Kuala Lumpur this year can rejoice as they only need to pay a maximum of RM400 to rent bazaar lots.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) bazaar lot rentals would be subsidised.
"The Ramadan bazaar lot rental will be capped at RM400 regardless of whether the bazaar is managed by DBKL or traders' associations.
"The rate is RM100 lower than last year's rate of RM500," she said at a press conference in Menara Seri Wilayah here on Friday (Jan 23).
This means that if the rental of a bazaar lot is more than RM400, especially those managed by traders' associations, the remaining cost would be subsidised by DBKL.
Yeoh said the bazaar management in Kuala Lumpur would return to the hybrid model this year, with DBKL and traders' associations each managing a number of locations.
"The post-mortem study for the bazaar management last year, which was fully conducted by DBKL, found that the offering of bazaar lots through votes could risk denying some traders with valid licences and their rights to trade in the bazaars.
"There were also dissatisfactions among the traders' associations as they failed to help their members trade in some locations under last year's system.
"The hybrid model could also ease DBKL's burden by allowing it to focus on enforcement," she said.
Of the 44 bazaar locations (3,779 lots), 12 (1,436 lots), including three Aidilfitri bazaars, will be managed by DBKL and 32 (2,343 lots) will be managed by traders' associations.
"The three main associations involved are Pertubuhan Pasar Malam Kuala Lumpur (PMKL), Persatuan Penjaja-Penjaja dan Peniaga-Peniaga Kecil Melayu Wilayah Persekutuan (PPPKMWP) and Persatuan Peniaga dan Penjaja Bumiputera Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (PPPBWPKL)," she said.
However, licensing and enforcement works in the bazaars will still be carried out by DBKL.
Yeoh warned that subletting and excessive profiteering practices are strictly prohibited.
"Enforcement actions will be taken against violators without any compromise," she said.
She added that DBKL would also offer insurance coverage for all bazaar traders, regardless of whether they operated in DBKL or association-managed locations.
"Bazaars in Putrajaya and Labuan will remain status quo.
"I also urge the public to maintain the cleanliness of the bazaars during their operation periods," she added.
Also present at the press conference was Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Fadhlun Mak Ujud.
