The licensed traders are currently operating at Zone D in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. — Courtesy photo
TAMAN Tasik Titiwangsa traders are urging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to reconsider its decision to freeze all temporary licences for hawkers and petty traders in the area.
Instead, they want DBKL to step up enforcement against illegal traders whom they say are causing the parking and traffic woes faced by Jalan Kuantan residents.
In a press conference, toy trader and Taman Tasik Titiwangsa Petty Traders Association (PPPKTTT) chairman Ahmad Zamree Fauzi spoke on behalf of 15 traders.
He said DBKL was being unreasonable in penalising licensed traders, particularly when the local authority had been unable to curb the proliferation of illegal traders in the area.
Also present at the press conference was Datuk Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim, who is PPPKTTT patron as well as chairman of Kuala Lumpur Night Market Management Organisation that represents 14,000 traders at 80 night market locations in the city.
The press conference took place at a meeting room at the PKNS flats in Jalan Kuching.
Ahmad Zamree says the relocation of legal traders will cause their business to suffer.
Ahmad Zamree gave a chronology of events starting with DBKL’s orders in January 2022 to move the traders from Zone A near Stadium Titiwangsa, then to Zone B near D’Saji Restaurant, followed by Zone C at the end of Jalan Temerloh near the security post and lastly to Zone D, where the recreational horse unit is.
He said to justify the move from Zone C to Zone D, DBKL had told them that their presence was attracting illegal traders to the area.
“DBKL should take action against the illegal traders, instead of punishing us.
“Now DBKL is telling us to move out of Zone D and to relocate to a spot on Jalan Temerloh where there is not much footfall.
“We don’t agree to this as the proposed area’s existing traders are already moving their stalls closer to the road in order to be more visible due to the scarcity of customers.
“Moving more traders to this place will not only burden the existing traders there but will cause business for the newcomers to suffer as well,” said Ahmad Zamree.
He said DBKL should let them remain in Zone D so that PPPKTTT members could earn a living.
Ahmad Zamree also claimed that goods confiscated by DBKL during previous operations had gone “missing”, including escooters and bicycles.
“DBKL should address this as well as compensate the affected traders for the missing items,” he said.
“If forced to move, many traders would lose their livelihoods,” said Ahmad Zamree who has been trading at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa for 15 years.
“On average, I only earn between RM3,000 and RM5,000 a month.
“My wife helps me at the stall. I have no other way to make a living,” he added.
When contacted, DBKL said it would give a response at a later date.
