Lively display: Shoppers and merchants crowding the Deepavali bazaar in Little India, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
SUNGAI BULOH: Traders at the Brickfields Deepavali Bazaar, who faced delays in starting operations, will have their deposits refunded soon, says Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives deputy minister said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has replaced the tents in Brickfields’ Little India with sturdier, more spacious and more comfortable ones to ensure the safety and convenience of both traders and shoppers.
Ramanan also clarified the misconception that he or his ministry were directly involved in organising the annual bazaar, explaining that it is a collaboration between DBKL and Bank Rakyat.
“Our office only stepped in after the issues surfaced; we were not aware of the arrangements earlier.
“Once we were informed, I raised the matter during our post-Cabinet meeting.
“We are now working closely with DBKL to ensure everything runs smoothly,” he said in a Bernama report.
The bazaar’s tent setup drew criticism from traders, who claimed the structures were too small and of poor quality, with several tents collapsing on Oct 1 after heavy rain.
It is understood that traders paid RM2,500 for the temporary business space, which included a RM2,000 deposit and the balance for service and cleaning fees.
