24/7 eateries making life hell for Taman Wangsa Melawati residents

I HAVE been a visitor to Taman Wangsa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, for more than 10 years.

I am appalled by congestion in Jalan Wangsa Melawati 3 and 1, as well as safety and hygiene issues in the area. This is due to the increasing number of stalls in the area.

The situation has worsened over the past decade, from a few stalls operating in the daytime to numerous eateries. Traffic has increased over the years as some eateries operate 24 hours daily.

Safety-wise, having eateries along road junctions is not a wise move. I believe it is illegal to operate eateries at traffic junctions. There is a long line of cars in Jalan Wangsa Melawati during peak hours.

Forget about road users. What about the residents in Taman Wangsa Melawati?

One can only guess how inconvenient it is for the residents to get in and out of their homes.

To make matters worse, stalls are set up on both sides of the road.

Cars parked on both sides of the road make it difficult for buses to turn at junctions.

Some motorists are arrogant and think they have the right to do whatever they want.

Hygiene is a nightmare in that area. I shudder to think of the dangers of rats and leptospirosis to people. Rodents are a big problem in the area.

I wonder why the authorities have allowed the stalls to operate for such a long time.

How did these stalls get their operating licences?

Why were new ones issued?

The authorities have torn down the stalls’ extensions, a reactive action rather than a proactive solution. It’s time the authorities looked at a long-term solution. Stall operators must not be allowed to operate 24 hours daily. They must be moved to a safer and cleaner site.