(Left) With no running water at Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot, trader Asmadi Ramli (foreground) is compelled to scoop water from a bucket to wash cut chicken parts. — Filepic
KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) is currently identifying traders from Transit Zone 1B of Pasar Raja Bot in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, to be relocated to Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot in a bid to fill up vacant lots there.
DBKL, in a statement, said it had taken several measures to address the problems highlighted by the traders, including the lack of promotion and relatively few traders relocating to their new lots in the market complex that was opened last March.
“DBKL has been promoting the Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot since March through digital billboards across Kuala Lumpur.
“Additionally, DBKL uploaded a promotional video regarding Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot on its official social media in June, and this promotional effort will be ongoing,” said DBKL.
It was responding to a StarMetro report titled “KL market makeover misses the mark” on Aug 27 that highlighted the traders’ plight due to conditions at the new market complex.
Kompleks Raja Bot represents the second of a four-phase redevelopment project for Pasar Raja Bot, with a total investment of RM177.5mil
The first phase, completed in 2016, introduced a roofed structure for the vegetable and fruit market.
StarMetro report on Aug 27.
However, traders have complained of several issues, including flash floods, water disruption, incomplete facilities as well as poor building design which they say had affected businesses.
They were worried that if these issues were not resolved, it would turn away traders and customers alike.
The old market — comprising zones 1A, 1B and 1E, located next to the vegetable and fruit market along Jalan Raja Alang — continues to attract more customers.
With few customers patronising the new market complex, traders fear business would be unsustainable.
In the statement DBKL also said that to address the water supply disruption issue, Air Selangor was currently performing utility relocation works.
“DBKL is also providing 10 to 12 water tankers daily to provide temporary water supply.
“DBKL is aware of the difficulties faced by traders loading and unloading coconuts at the lower level and will review the suitability of the site for storing coconuts.
“We will also resolve the issues concerning the arrangement of cold storage rooms.”
On the issue of enforcement, DBKL said the demolition of unlicensed stall structures started in April.
“For Transit Zone 1E, DBKL demolished the business site and converted the area into an access route to Phase 1 of the market where fruit and vegetable traders are located,” added DBKL.
Addressing the issue of the stalls not being equipped with cooker hoods, DBKL said it was exploring the best solutions, either by relocating traders or upgrading the facilities according to the traders’ type of business.
“DBKL will provide a parking area to be developed as part of Phase 4 of the market complex.
“Meanwhile, the contractor has placed sandbags to reduce the amount of water entering Phase 2 of the Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot to address issues of water pooling.”
