Thursday July 30, 2009

Hidden dangers for traders at new site

By CHOONG MEK ZHIN

EVERY morning, traders would sell their wares along Lorong Gelugor, a prime location with a lot of human traffic, but when part of the road caved in last Saturday, many of them had no idea where else to go.

“I have been selling vegetables for 20 years in Lorong Gelugor.

“It is a good spot and I have a lot of customers, many of whom I’ve done business with for years and know by name,” Hatijah Rosti, 51, said.

She would rather close down her business than move to the location offered to the traders now in Lorong Meranti 3, about 50 metres away from Lorong Gelugor.

Checking it out: A passer-by stopping to have a look at an open manhole where water can be heard gushing underneath the walkway.

The traders were also unaware that a section of Lorong Meranti 3 had been cordoned off by the police as part of the walkway has collapsed.

“That area is next to a big rubbish dump as well as a monsoon drain. It’s a road used by a lot of vehicles so I don’t think business will be too good there,” Hatijah said.

She adding that parking was limited and it was far enough to discourage people from visiting the area.

Since Sunday, Hatijah and a few traders have been opening up their stalls in the tarmac area between the Public Works Department (JKR) quarters and the Sri Selangor Business Complex.

“This area is owned by Umno and we have been given temporary permission to set up our stalls here,” Hatijah said.

Others managed to get spots in the wet market along Jalan Merlimau that forms a T-junction with Lorong Gelugor.

Hatijah said there were more traders than space but this could be overcome by arranging the allocated spots properly or allowing them to use the small wet market area in the Sri Selangor Business Complex.

Not an option: Hatijah would rather close down her business than move from Lorong Gelugor.

Traders from the wet market who have heard of the plans to build a new market in Jalan San Peng were also not too keen to move.

“It could take a long time before the place is ready but I’d rather stay put because I’m used to it here,” Lee, 57, a trader in the wet market for the past 35 years, said.

Hatijah, too, expressed the same opinion and wished to move back to her spot in Lorong Gelugor when the repair work was completed.

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