KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been urged to solve the issue of unlicensed stalls along Jalan Langkawi in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur once and for all, as they have been causing nuisance and hygiene problems.
Among the 19 food stalls operating near a drain along that stretch of road, only four have valid licences.
Social activist Andre Lai, who voices issues affecting Wangsa Maju residents, said all 19 operators moved their stalls closer to a low-cost apartment nearby when DBKL started repair works on the drain.
He said some of the operators have been sourcing electricity and water from the apartment, leading to dissatisfaction among the residents.
“The drain repair works could have been a good opportunity to relocate the traders elsewhere, but DBKL has not taken the necessary actions.
“If the problem is left unresolved, the traders may return to the drain after it is repaired. They may pollute or even damage the drain again as most of them don’t have proper grease traps,” he said.
A StarMetro article on 29 May, titled “Potholes wreck Wangsa Maju road”, reported that a broken drain caused continuous water overflow. This eroded the surface of Jalan Langkawi and created massive potholes, posing a severe safety hazard to residents.
It was also reported that the roadside stalls had been obstructing the repair works.
DBKL also issued temporary suspension notices to the traders to clear the area after an inspection on April 30.
Wangsa Maju Federal Territory Residents’ Representative Council committee member Maanoj Santhrasegaran suggested that Jalan Langkawi be widened after the drain repair is completely to deter the illegal operators from obstructing the drain again.
“Widening the road can also help alleviate the traffic congestion on the road during peak hours, which could sometimes drag until 9pm,” he added.
DBKL has not responded to queries regarding the issue as at press time.
