Yee (centre) and DBKL Kepong branch officials discussing how parking spaces can be restored along Jalan Kepong Baru.
JALAN Kepong Baru’s wai sek kai (glutton street) area in Kuala Lumpur is said to be dying as customers now have difficulty accessing the food stalls.
It is because Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has disallowed street parking near the area, due to safety concerns.
“The area used to be bustling, but now, with the new safety measures in place, it has become lifeless,” said community activist Yee Poh Ping.
He has called on DBKL to reconsider its decision and allow street parking at the popular food stall area.
He said elderly customers now had to park far away and walk to the place by crossing a busy road.
“It is not safe for the elderly to park far away.
“I am hoping DBKL will restore parking spaces in front of the stalls, so that the senior citizens have safer access (to said stalls),” he said.
Yee suggested that DBKL have two parking spaces at the nearby Jalan Antoi 3.
He also proposed for the construction of speed bumps along Jalan Kepong Baru.
“With proper safety measures, I believe the concerns about blind spots at a nearby intersection can be solved,” he said.
Yee said both the safety of road users and the livelihood of hawkers must be taken into account.
“We want to ensure the interests of both vendors and road users are protected,” he said.
DBKL Kepong branch officials said they would review the situation and meet the hawkers and community members, to discuss possible solutions.
Fruit stall vendor Lew Kok Wei, 52, said his business had dropped by 50% or 60% because of the lack of parking spaces.
“It is very inconvenient for customers to stop, even for a few minutes.
“When they park temporarily, passing cars honk at them,” he said.
