Thursday September 13, 2012
Former police station and carpark possible sites for Deepavali bazaar
By BAVANI M
bavanim@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) has identified two alternative sites for the upcoming Deepavali bazaar in the Brickfields Little India area.
During a meeting with traders and NGOs from the township on Tuesday, DBKL hawker management director Rolan Abdul Rahman told traders that the former Brickfields district police headquarters in Jalan Tun Sambanthan and the carpark near the Tun Sambanthan Monorail station in Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4 had been identified as the most suitable sites for the bazaar.
The traders were also informed that starting from this year, bazaars would no longer be held in front of shops and on public walkways.
The decision was made following protests from shopowners along Jalan Tun Sambathan in Brickfields.
Alternative site: The former Brickfields district police headquarters in Jalan Tun Sambanthan has been identified as a possible site for the Deepavali bazaar this year. Dr R. Narkunan, who represented about 250 business owners and the disabled community, lauded the decision as it was fair to all.
“I have always said there should not be any stalls blocking public walkways and obstructing tactile pathways for the blind,’’ he said.
Dr Narkunan, who runs Klinik Medic City, said last year his business had dropped by 60% as people could not park outside the clinic.
“In case of an emergency, how is an ambulance or a patient in need of urgent treatment going to park?’’ he asked.
K. Chandran of Sri Paandi Restaurant said he was happy to hear that the bazaars would be relocated to another site.
“I have no problem with the decision,’’ he said.
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman S.K.K Naidu said both the new bazaar locations were viable sites as it was still near the Little India area.
“It is within walking distance and located away from the traffic and will help ease congestion in the township during the festival season,” he said.
Last week, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had instructed DBKL to look for alternative sites for the bazaar.
Raja Nong Chik had also agreed that walkways in front of the business premises were not suitable for the stalls.
StarMetro recently reported of shopowners along Jalan Tun Sambathan who had protested against DBKL’s move to set up a Deepavali bazaar in front of their shops.
They said the stalls on the pavement would deter shoppers from entering their premises and as a result affect business, as in previous years.
Meanwhile, based on allegations of middleman raking in thousands of ringgit for the bazaar lots, DBKL has also decided to implement the balloting system to be fair to everyone.
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