City council to monitor situation, warns traders to comply with requirements
Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has approved over 80 bazaar locations to accommodate the upcoming double festive season of Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the city council greenlit 36 sites for Chinese New Year and 51 Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaar sites.
“We have approved 36 locations involving 197 lots for Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 17 and 18.
“On top of that, we have also approved 82 business premises to sell festive goods in front of their shops,” he said during the MBJB full board meeting.
The mayor said the 51 bazaar locations had been identified for the fasting month and subsequent Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
These include 23 sites managed by private organisers on MBJB land involving 1,160 lots.
“They also include 13 locations on private land, as well as 15 sites managed by Yayasan Bandaraya Johor Baru.”
He said traders operating stalls in designated carparks would need to make separate payments through the MBJB Spot mobile app.
He reminded traders and organisers that all approvals were subject to licensing conditions.
“Among them are that those handling food and drink must receive typhoid vaccinations and the employment of foreigners to operate stalls is strictly prohibited.
“They are also not permitted to set up more tents than the number approved,” he said, adding that the city council would not hesitate to take action against any infringements.
To prevent traders from being burdened by high overheads, MBJB had capped the rental rate at RM500 per lot, he said.
This follows reports of rental rates previously soaring into the thousands of ringgit.
At a press conference later, Mohd Haffiz said MBJB had beefed up enforcement to ensure lots were not sublet to third parties at a higher price.
“We will monitor the situation closely and may blacklist traders or organisers found renting out approved lots to others.
“I urge those given this opportunity not to abuse it and for organisers to be fair when selecting traders,” he added.
