Teratai Mewah market traders worry they will be relocated again.
Teratai Mewah market traders in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur want the local authority to issue new trading licence that reflects the present site they operate from following their relocation in 2018.
Five years ago, these traders were forced to move out from a site near Lorong Chung Hwa after the land was sold to a private company.
The market is now located at Jalan Prima Setapak.
However, the licences held by the traders state the old site near Lorong Chung Hwa and not Jalan Prima Setapak.
Teratai Mewah Petty Traders Association treasurer Jay Boon Kiat said the traders were worried that they would be relocated again as the licence did not reflect their current trading location.
“When we were relocated in 2018, the only place offered was Jalan Prima Setapak and we took the offer.
“We hope to operate here permanently and we want Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to acknowledge the market location.
“Right now, we renew the licence when it expires but the location stated remains unchanged,” he said.
According to Jay, there were about 110 stalls in the previous location, but when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, only about 60 traders remained.
“As far as I know, there are no other suitable locations for a market in this area, so, we hope DBKL will make this place permanent.
“We have also raised the matter with Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan and are waiting to have a second meeting with him to sort out the issue.
“We also hope DBKL will provide us with new tents as some of the old ones are in bad condition,” he said.
Wangsa Maju PKR chief Andre Lai said the market was partly on Education Ministry land and a road reserve.
“There were efforts by former MP Datin Paduka Tan Yee Kew to instal a zinc roof but due to the land status, the plan did not materialise.
“A check with the Federal Territories Land and Mines Department showed that the market occupies a part of land belonging to the Education Ministry while the remaining part was leased to a food court.
“We hope DBKL can look into this and make it permanent for the traders as the market serves nearby residents,” he said.
When contacted, Zahir said he has raised the matter with DBKL but has not received any updates and promised to follow up on the matter. — By JAROD LIM
