‘RESTRICTIONS BAD FOR BUSINESS’
KUANTAN: Car boot sale traders have been plying their trade at the parking lots at Taman Kerang here for years.
However, the flow of customers has slowed to a trickle since Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) awarded the management of the traders’ activities to one individual.
A RM30 fee was initially imposed on the traders and they had objected to it.
Later, the amount was reduced to RM15 per night from Monday to Thursday, and RM25 from Friday to Sunday.
Now, the traders are unhappy about new restrictions that have led to a drop in the number of customers.
Drinks seller Adnan Ali, 43, said traders were forbidden from cooking food and displaying their drink containers.
He said his drink dispenser was kept at the back of his van, which was parked beside his stall.
“Customers prefer to buy food and drinks from stall operators who prepare the food in front of them.
“They do not want to buy from stalls where there are no cooking equipment and drink containers as they think the products are not fresh,” Adnan added.
He wants to know why these restrictions were imposed as they had always kept the area clean.
He said the situation had deteriorated to such an extent that some traders were forced to stop doing business at the car park.
He said some traders had relocated to other areas such as the parking lot at Stadium Darul Makmur, here.
“Traders at the stadium are charged similar rates but they are allowed to cook at the stalls and display their drink containers in front,” he said.
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An MPK spokesman said the council had taken note of the traders’ complaints and was trying to work out a solution to the problem.
“The issue involving the rent on the parking spots (used by the car boot sale traders) is still under discussion.”
He said a decision would be made after every aspect of the matter was looked into.