Traders moved to Dataran Niaga@Jalan Camar near Perling Mall in July.
Some roadside hawkers are reporting that business remains slow after relocating to Dataran Niaga@Jalan Camar in Taman Perling, Johor Baru.
Some 14 traders moved to the new site on July 2 after operating for many years right next to Perling Mall.
“It has been over a month since we moved here but business is still not good,” Muiz Hot Chicken Perling stall assistant Muhammad Kimi Ramli Abdullah lamented.
He said business at the former site had been good but sales were down by half at the new location around the corner.
Muhammad Kimi, 18, said the former site opposite Perling Highway had high traffic volume with thousands of vehicles going to the Second Link daily.
“Most of our customers were regulars including those ordering fried chicken via food delivery services.”
Tengku Asree: Previous location captured workers heading to Singapore in the morning.
Muhammad Kimi hoped Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) could put up more banners at strategic locations to inform the public about Dataran Niaga@JalanCamar.
Meqza Nasi Ayam Berempah co-owner Tengku Asree Tuan Ahmad, 40, said his business was down by 75% in the first two weeks of July.
“Things started to improve in the third week but it is still down by 50%,” he said.
Tengku Asree said business at the former site started at 7am to cater to locals working in Singapore who would buy rice dishes for breakfast before taking the Second Link crossing.
Lorry drivers also previously stopped to buy rice dishes, but at the new site there was no space for them to do so, he added.
“We hope business will get better when the new high-rise apartment project, located just a few metres from us, starts in the next few months,” said Tengku Asree.
Muhammad Kimi says business is down by half compared to what it was at the previous location.
However, owner of Cendol Kak Ti Perling, Wati Zainol, 52, said business was down by half in the first two weeks after moving to the new place, but now it was as good as it was at the old place.
She said the current hot spell was helpful as many people were flocking to her stall for a cooling drink.
“There are also many parking bays at the new site for customers,” she added.
StarMetro reported on June 5 of Iskandar Puteri mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad saying that the city council received complaints about roadside hawkers near Perling Mall.
He had said that many customers double-parked to buy food from the stalls, causing inconvenience to others.
Mohd Haffiz also said that lorry drivers who stopped to patronise the stalls would block the view of motorists exiting Jalan Camar to Perling Highway.
