Ruckus over removal of stalls by DBKL
Thursday, 2 Aug 2018
by bavani m.
DBKL officers loading an illegal stall onto a truck for removal.
TEMPERS flared during a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) raid on several roadside stalls operating illegally along Jalan Sepadu in Taman United, Jalan Kelang Lama, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
DBKL officers from the Seputeh branch office managed to diffuse the situation quickly.
The stalls, some illegal and others operating on temporary licences, were dismantled and removed by officers for infringements of by-laws.
Some 25 enforcement officers were at the site to conduct the raid.
“Six stalls operated by foreigners and three by locals were removed for multiple infringements of rules and regulations,” he said.
DBKL officers dismantling a stall with extensions on a public walkway along Jalan Sepadu.
Abdul Syatar said DBKL acted on public complaints based on information provided by StarMetro readers as well as complaints forwarded rom the office of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
Also dismantled was a corner stall in Jalan Sepadu 5 where the owner had carried out illegal renovations and extended his stall by constructing a permanent kitchen and dining area on a pedestrian walkway.
The stall’s owner also placed tanks of cooking gas along the edge of the stall, endangering the public.
The stall, which is said to have started out small, had tripled in size just before the World Cup in June.
Residents living around the area were annoyed that Jalan Sepadu, notorious for its heavy traffic, was even more congested when the stall’s customers double-parked along the stretch.
People in the area said, just before the games kicked off on June 14, the stall that originally had only a few tables laid out completely transformed into a “restaurant” almost overnight.
It sported an LED signboard, roof, a kitchen with grilles, built-in sink, wall fans and television sets with Astro channels.
Residents also questioned the legality of allowing stalls to encroach onto walkways and road kerbs.
During the operation, several hawkers whose stalls were removed approached StarMetro, complaining that DBKL was practising double standard.
“I have been running my stall for 30 years and my extension was much smaller than the other stalls, yet they took my entire stall away,” lamented a hawker who only wanted to be identified as Lee.
image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2018/08/01/20/37/metd_0208_p4_fwk4.ashx?h=401&&w=620&la=en
The City Hall used heavy machinery to tear down some of the stalls during the operation.
Lee pointed out a mamak stall operating across the road and claimed that even though its extension was much bigger, only a portion of the stall was removed and its kitchen left intact.
The mamak stall operator, who identified himself as Mohamed Rilwan Abdul Jalil defended his enterprise, saying that renovations were made to keep the business clean.
“It used to be so dirty and messy and I only made the place more conducive,” he said.
DBKL rules for roadside stalls state that hawkers must comply with specified location, lot size, time and operating hours.
The rules also state that hawkers must use a canopy that is neat and within the allocated lot and hawkers are prohibited from putting up a permanent structure.
Mohamed Rilwan insisted he had done nothing wrong and claimed that DBKL had allowed him to operate with the extensions. He added that he would be appealing to the local authority to allow him to retain his kitchen.
Another trader, Mohd Ramli Mohd, who had his stall dismantled for operating without a licence, said he had been operating at the location for years.
“I applied for a licence in 2000, but DBKL rejected my application,” he said.
“How am I supposed to feed my family?” he pleaded.
Last month, StarMetro highlighted the issue of petty traders given temporary licences violating regulations, with traders violating multiple environment, sanitation, hygiene and safety by-laws.
Some of the traders have even sold or sublet their stalls to a third party for a monthly fee.
Readers who responded to the Metro Hygiene Campaign last month pointed us towards dozens of roadside stalls in Kuala Lumpur that have become hazardous to the surrounding community.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/08/02/ruckus-over-removal-of-stalls-dbkl-tears-down-illegal-structures-in-taman-united-jalan-kelang-lama/#hbYUmiijOYyv5UIT.99
