Masjid India business owners want hawker stalls and petty traders removed

KUALA LUMPUR: Clear all hawker stalls and petty traders along Jalan Masjid India immediately, local business associations demanded today.
In a joint press conference, the Masjid India Business Association (MIBA), Muslim Consumer Association Malaysia and Wisma Yakin Traders have urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall to immediately resolve this 20-year-long problem, which had among others caused loss in revenue, congestion, damage in infrastructure as well as obstructions to business premises in the area.
MIBA chairman Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said the hawker stalls and petty traders who set up their stalls have affected some 400 over businesses in this area and it is worst during the Hari Raya festive season when the Ramadhan Bazaar is set up.
"There should be no Ramadhan bazaar, no night markets or any stalls or structures along the street here.
"All these stalls, including the Ramadhan bazaar, should be moved out of Masjid India to a more suitable place like Jalan Raja Laut, opposite the City Hall, where the road is wider," he said.
The visibly frustrated group have said that numerous complaints have been made to both City Hall as well as Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun on the matter.
"The huge covered structure built outside the mosque here has also been an obstruction and eyesore.
"There have been times when petty traders block the passage into the mosque," Muslim Consumer Association advisor Hishamudin Ubaidulla said.
Slamming the former Barisan Nasional administration for not resolving this matter, he said there was no consultation with the business association or traders prior to putting up the covered structure for petty traders.
"We appeal to City Hall or any minister, who would be appointed, to control this and stop this. If you cannot control this place on a daily basis, then don't take charge of this area," Hishamudin said.
Coming out hard on Fong, Ameer demanded that he apologises to the business traders for the loss they faced.
"We deserve an apology from the MP. He messed up our Raya business," he said.
Hishamudin also said that this raises concerns about safety too, adding that there were two fire incidences where the fire rescue team were unable to access the area due to congestion.
"Because of these hawker stalls and structures, the Fire Department can't enter if there is a fire, the Police can't enter if there is a crime. This is just an accident waiting to happen."