‘NO OBJECTION FROM QUALIFIED TRADERS’
Unrelated parties identified as the instigators of protest, says DBKL Corporate Planning Department director
KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) said it had not received any objection from the qualified traders involved in the drawing of lots for the Jalan Raja
Ramadan Bazaar.
DBKL Corporate Planning Department director Norhaslinda Nordin said the qualified traders were willing to adhere to the change of location if they succeed in getting lots.
“Unrelated parties have been identified as the source of the chaos. Of the 1,331 traders who were qualified to vote, not one objected or left the building as a sign of protest,” she said.
Haslinda was referring to the New Straits Times’ front page report yesterday, on the protest of more than 300 traders at Stadium Titiwangsa, which saw the drawing of bazaar lots halted.
She said order was restored when its Licensing and Petty Traders’ Management Department deputy director Ismadi Sakirin intervened.
After Ismadi explained the situation, the drawing of lots for the bazaars in Cheras and Batu proceeded.
Haslinda said DBKL was willing to hear views from traders to increase the number of lots in Jalan Raja.
She said the outcome on the appeals by the disgruntled traders would be announced at a later date.
Previously, she said only traders who qualified for the sessions between Tuesday and today, were notified via SMS.
The protest began about 10.30am on Tuesday when Kuala Lumpur Bumiputra Traders and Hawkers Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman walked on stage with an entourage and staged a protest for two hours.
Rosli interrupted the drawing of lots and asked DBKL officers to stop the session until their views were heard.
The officers from the Licensing and Petty Traders’ Management Department complied with the demand.
Rosli then announced that the traders, gathering in strength in front of the stage, would not allow the session to continue until the bazaar was reinstated in Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Rosli called off the protest at noon.