KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Titiwangsa Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the seat's previous member of parliament had failed to cater to the well-being of the constituents.
The former second finance minister claimed there were no improvements or developments made to Pasar Datuk Keramat for five years which is affecting 334 traders due to a dispute between Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the developer.
"In terms of wiring, it is no longer safe since there were frequent fires due to short circuits and this situation puts the traders at risk.
"I was informed that DBKL has entered into an agreement with the developer, which was selected by city hall itself.
"However, the developer has not yet paid the land purchase payment in full, causing it to be delayed for five years," Johari said in a posting on his Facebook.
He said he was also told that the developer has either financial problems or that they do not know what development plan they want to introduce.
"On top of that, the former Titiwangsa MP never represented the Pasar Keramat traders in an engagement session with DBKL to obtain information of who is responsible and how to resolve the matter," he said.
Johari said he offered himself to be a "firm mediator" in this issue, saying all parties involved needed to sit together to come up with an effective solution.
If given the opportunity to return to Titiwangsa as its MP, Johari said he would get all stakeholders in the Pasar Datuk Keramat issue, especially the traders and hawkers, to lay all of their views on the table transparently.
"I have a track record and some experience in solving traders' issues such as in the development of Pasar Minggu Kampung Baru which has been successfully developed.
"I also have experience in solving the problem of slum development in Kampung Pandan India, to ensure that all development agendas are agreed upon by 100 per cent of the parties involved.
"If I can resolve all the issues at Pasar Minggu Kampung Baru and Kampung Pandan India, why shouldn't I contribute my experience and efforts to resolve the land issue at Pasar Keramat?
"If I am given the mandate to represent the voice of the Titiwangsa community, I will make sure this problem is solved."
The Titiwangsa seat is set to see a four-cornered fight among Johari, Khalid Samad (Pakatan Harapan), Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan (Pejuang) and Dr Rosni Adam (Perikatan Nasional).
In the 2018 general election, caretaker Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun won the Titiwangsa seat on PH's ticket with a 4,139 vote majority.
She will be contesting in Sepang for GE15.