CNY bazaar traders urge MBPJ to reduce deposit
PETALING JAYA: Temporary hawkers at the Chinese New Year bazaar in Jalan SS2/62 are asking Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to reduce the deposit of RM200.
Petaling Jaya Utara Federal Development Coordinator Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou said with the unpredictable weather, the hawkers are having a hard time.
"Their business has been affected as some of them had to close early due to the rain in the past few days.
"We are hoping that MBPJ will lift the RM200 deposit or reduce the amount," Dr Wong said.
The deposit was collected from the hawkers this year to maintain the cleanliness of the area.
He said the hawkers were only selling non-perishable Chinese New Year items.
One of the hawkers, S. Thangaraja, 54, who sells clothes said he has had to close his shop as early as 11am due to bad weather over the last three days.
"I cannot sell clothes in the rain. As such, I will not earn much this year," he said.
Thangaraja, who starts his business at 6am daily, said he hopes that MBPJ would lessen the deposit to help the hawkers.
Another trader, handbag seller Muhammad Ariff Shaputra Ramli, 20, also said that his business has been affected by the rain.
"Last year, they only charged us for the rent and license. This year we have to pay extra RM200, but our business is not doing well," he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on complaints from 46 hawkers who were not able to get applications form for temporary stalls as they were given out on a "first come, first served" policy, Dr Wong said the local council should stick to the previous system.
"MBPJ should do it like last year when they sold 150 forms and then interviewed the hawkers to check their eligibility," he said.
Dr Wong added that after the complaints, MBPJ decided to increase the number of forms to 120, and conduct interviews to determine the final 83 hawkers who will be eligible.
Besides Jalan SS2/62, MBPJ also allocated temporary lots for Chinese New Year bazaars in Kg Cempaka, Taman Megah and Jalan Othman.
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