Ramadan bazaar row: DAP MP admits writing support letter, denies pocketing rent
Debra Chong,Malay Mail 1
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun today admitted writing a letter to City Hall (DBKL) to support the application of a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth member at the centre of controversial corruption claim concerning the rental of Ramadan bazaar stalls here.
However, the veteran lawmaker, who is also DAP treasurer, denied that he had received any monetary benefit from additional charges allegedly collected from stall traders in the Masjid India area as “rental” by his Pakatan Harapan (PH) colleague, who has been named as Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim.
“On June 5, Mohd Noorhisyam asked me for help to issue a letter of support with the intention to help traders who failed to get a licence from DBKL so they could set up shop at Jalan Masjid India during Ramadan.
“I issued the support letter on the condition that no rental charges be imposed by anyone other than DBKL,” he said in a statement.
Fong found himself dragged into the growing row over the Ramadan bazaar stalls after DBKL’s Licensing and Petty Traders Development Department director Anwar Mohd Zain told The Star daily yesterday that he reversed an earlier decision to reject Mohd Noorhisyam’s application after receiving the letter of support.
Malay Mail had earlier tried to contact Fong on his mobile phone but it was switched off.
In his statement, Fong denied being part of any money collection racket.
He emphasised that he only issued the letter of support with the intention of helping the traders and that DBKL still has the final say.
“I will not tolerate any form of misappropriation,” he said.
Bazaar traders in Masjid India raised a stink earlier this week, alleging that a PPBM member had used his political connections to impose extra charges on businesses in the area.
Fong said he has contacted the traders to get an explanation, and asked those with information on the matter to contact him or report the case to the police.
He also said he would file a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if he finds evidence to support the allegations.
