By BAVANI M
bavanim@thestar.com.my
Monday May 10, 2010
RESIDENTS and the business community in Brickfields are up in arms over a “spur of the moment” decision by the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry to allow the 17 hawkers to continue operating at Jalan Thamby Abdullah, Brickfields, instead of moving them to the Jalan Chan Ah Tong field as announced earlier.
Many of them believe that the move will set a precedent as other hawkers will also eventually have to be relocated for the Little India project.
The residents said they agreed to the government’s plan to upgrade Brickfields, which included relocating all street hawkers into a proper food court.
S. Raymond, who has been living here for the past 50 years, said it was about time that they had a clean and comfortable place to live and work in.
“I question the decision to retain the 17 hawkers at the present site. The place is filthy and crawling with rats. You have pipes under the trees and food thrown into the drains. The hawkers must move to a proper food court,” he said.
On Friday, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin decided to allow the hawkers to stay put despite his deputy, Datuk M. Saravanan, having announced on Wednesday that the hawkers must move out to make way for the Little India redevelopment plans.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall had served notices to 17 hawkers to relocate to the Chan Ah Tong field — 100 metres away from their present site — by the end of the month.
The hawkers were initially given 30 days from April 6 to move out, but the hawkers complained that the new site was not conducive for business and they were in the dark about the project.
Saravanan then requested project developer Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) to put up two billboards with details of the project.
According to the redevelopment project, the present site where the hawkers are trading is going to be an information counter for tourists.
K. Jeyasree, who lives in Crescent Court, Brickfields, said she had been waiting for the announcement (Little India upgrade) for a long time.
“But you have to ensure that proper planning is put in place or else the project will not take off,” she said.
An owner of a restaurant, who did not wish to be identified, said: “If you allow one group to stay, then you have to allow everyone else to stay as well.”
A total of 67 hawkers will be affected by the development project.
Brickfields RT chairman S.K.K Naidu said there must be a clear policy and rules in place and in the case of the hawkers they had to be placed in a proper and systematic manner.
Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was also surprised by the decision to allow the hawkers to stay.
“You have a blueprint in place so follow it. There has to be a clear direction of what one is going to do so that there won’t be any confusion,’’ she said.
“The project must be completed as planned.
“There must also be further consultations between the ministry, developer and stakeholders in Brickfields,” she said.
Nong Chick had said that the traders could remain as long as they did not hinder the road work.
He also said the traders would have to adhere to Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) rules and regulations and observe the cleanliness of the area.
The RM35mil Little India project will sport a multi-storey carpark, high-end Indian bazaar, souvenir centre, fruit and flower kiosks, information counter and food court.
The project will see the township transformed into a cultural enclave reflecting the 1Malaysia concept and provide a tourism boost for Brickfields.
