One of the market stalls has been covered in canvas since the trader received a notice to vacate after failing to pay the month’s rent before MBPJ’s deadline. — Photos: AZMAN GHANI/The Star
FORTY-SEVEN traders at Pasar Besar Jalan Othman in Petaling Jaya Old Town, Selangor, received a three-day notice to vacate for defaulting on rent.
They have not been trading at their stalls since Oct 11 after receiving the notice on Oct 8.
Jalan Othman Market Traders Association chairman N. Rajaratnam was among those who received the notice issued by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
“I have been operating here for 25 years. I feel like MBPJ could have taken a more lenient approach.
“Most of us defaulted on the rent by only one month,” said chicken-seller Rajaratnam.
Traders, he said, were required to pay the rent online by the 18th of each month and some of the 47 traders who were late in making payment by just a day found the system locked.
Notice to vacate issued to traders who defaulted on their rent.
The notice also said traders had to apply for a new trading licence to resume business at the market, he told StarMetro, and wondered how much this would cost.
In the past, he said traders paid RM350 each, including two months’ deposit for the licence.
As the traders had paid RM700 to MBPJ when they applied for their licence previously, he said the city council should not terminate their licence for defaulting on one month’s rent.
“Deepavali is days away and we will normally have better business during the festive period,” he added.
Rajaratnam said they contacted the area’s MBPJ councillor Ahmad Akhir Pawan Chik who promised to sort out the matter.
Association deputy chairman Zulkarnain Shahbhari said business was not as brisk since the Covid-19 pandemic because the market lacked promotion to attract new customers.
Dr Afif (third from right) with Rajaratnam to his right, speaking to affected traders at the market.
The affected traders vented their frustration to Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin during a meet-up at the market.
Dr Afif told StarMetro the market had about 560 business lots with only 200 operational, and now 47 traders had received the notice to vacate.
“We do not want them to have to trade on the streets illegally,” he said, noting that the traders were already burdened by the increase in licence fees from RM90 to RM350 post-pandemic.
“There are many vacant lots and MBPJ could give a year’s free rental to new traders.
“This will attract more customers to the market.
“Some of the lots have been vacant for years.
“MBPJ must be supportive of existing traders instead of terminating their licence,” he said.
Dr Afif claimed that some people applying to trade at the market were told there were no vacant stalls.
Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon, when contacted by StarMetro, said termination of licences for defaulting on rental payment was MBPJ’s policy.
“This is our standard operating procedure and the traders are well aware of it.
“They have to reapply for a business licence,” he said while pledging to look into the 47 traders’ plight.
