Make a stand, mayor
The TTDI Market Traders Association wants to hear it from Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail himself if he stands by his latest statement that the plan to demolish the market to make way for redevelopment stays.
THE TTDI Market Traders Association wants the Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail to take a clear stance on whether the Taman Tun Dr Ismail market will be redeveloped.
“Why are we kept in the dark? We do not know what the status is now. The mayor was quoted by two newspapers on Feb 14 that the market would be demolished and the area would be redeveloped into a mixed commercial area, as it was obstructing the MRT line.
“It is not true that a majority of TTDI residents want the market to be destroyed as claimed by the mayor in his press statement. We have so far collected 10,000 signatures from residents and traders opposing the demolition of the market,” TTDI Market Traders Association chairman Jenny Loo told reporters at the TTDI market yesterday.
“So far, the mayor has not met us to discuss how we feel about the matter. Everything has just been via the media,” said Loo, adding that traders and residents are unhappy with the fact that their opinions were not being taken into consideration.
Ramli Ismail, who is the adviser to the traders association, said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had previously mentioned that stakeholders would be included in future discussions and their views on the development of the site taken into consideration.
“Why is the mayor saying this now? The traders will not budge from the market and we will stand by this decision, from the beginning till the end.
“Most of the residents have objected to the redevelopment plan, saying that this market has existed in the area since 1985.
“Where else can we can get a wet market now?” said Ramli, adding that TTDI market had undergone a great deal of development to reach its present status.
Ramli said the association had recently received a letter from the KL mayor requesting for a meeting to be held on Feb 27 at the TTDI Community Hall.
According to Ramli, the letter did not mention the agenda for the meeting. KL Prima Consult Sdn Bhd, the developer of the project; Tetuan RSP Arkitek Sdn Bhd; TTDI Market Traders Association; and TTDI Residents Association have been invited to attend the meeting.
“After we visited the DBKL information centre, we found out that the market is not in the way of the MRT line. So what is happening?” asked Ramli.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who organised the press conference at the market said the traders and residents should be given the chance to voice their opinions on the matter.
“They are very confused with the situation as the mayor had not been accessible at any point in time to meet with them to discuss the issue at length.
“The traders and residents have the right to know whether the market will be demolished,” said Lim.
It was reported in The Star on Jan 6 that Raja Nong Chik had confirmed that DBKL had received an application to redevelop the site of the market, but no decision had been made on the proposal.
Raja Nong Chik had also mentioned that stakeholders would be included in future discussions and their views on the development of the site taken into consideration.
DBKL received an application from WCT Sdn Bhd and Perdana Padu Sdn Bhd to redevelop the market site.
On New Year’s Eve, about 100 traders and residents had staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the TTDI market against the demolition of the market.