Two eateries told to move out

Licences of cafes at Lake Titiwangsa cancelled

IT WAS not the best way to start off 2012, as two dining outlets operating near Lake Titiwangsa were made to vacate the premises after their licences were cancelled.

The Sawarabina Cafe and Mamam d’cafe had been operating at the site of the now-defunct “Eye On Malaysia”.

When Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers visited the two outlets on the afternoon of Jan 1, workers were dismantling Sawarabina Cafe’s outdoor tent and getting ready to move out.

However, Mamam d’cafe was still seen serving customers.

Some police officers from the Sentul district headquarters were brought in to support the DBKL operation.

DBKL’S Business Facilitation and Petty Traders Management Department chief assistant director Saiful Mazli Ahmad said the cafe operators had violated council guidelines.

We left them six months so that they could wrap up their operations and find a new place to operate in. —SAIFUL MAZLI AHMAD

Moreover, DBKL had received complaints from nearby residents.

“The two cafes’ licences were revoked in June last year and we sent them eight notices. The last notice was on Dec 28 to vacate the premises. We did not take action for six months to allow the outlet owners to wrap up their operations and find a new place.

“The Taman Tasik Titiwangsa Residents Association had complained about the business operations. They also broke DBKL guidelines by fixing additional tents,” Saiful said.

He said DBKL would no longer be issuing business licences for the premises as the area would be landscaped and rented out for outdoor events.

“We’ll also be taking action against four outlets operating behind Istana Budaya. The outlets have misused land meant for residential purposes,” he added.

The two cafes started business in the vacated buildings in 2010. Sawarabina was given a licence in May and Mamam d’cafe in March that year.

About 60 DBKL officers were present to ensure that the two operators vacated the premises.

It was learnt that the two cafe operators had quit the former “Eye On Malaysia” premises between 11pm and midnight, although DBKL officers moved in around 6.30pm to help remove some of the bulkier items such as large metal bars.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd will be cutting off power supply to the two buildings today.

In progress: Workers dismantling the outdoor canopy that had been erected outside Sawarabina Cafe. The Middle Eastern cafe, along with another outlet, had their licences cancelled.