The Star Online: Metro: Central

Shopowners in Brickfields say no to Deepavali stalls on public walkways

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:12 AM PDT

TRADERS along Jalan Tun Sambathan in Brickfields are up in arms against the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) move to set up a Deepavali bazaar in front of their shops.

The traders, who operate about 250 shops between Public Bank and Vinekananda Ashrama, have been protesting every year but their calls have fallen on deaf ears.

They said the stalls located on the pavement would deter shoppers from entering their premises, as a result, their business would drop by 50% to 60% as shown in previous years.

Brickfields Stakeholders Association's pro-tem president Dr R. Narkunam urged City Hall to relocate the bazaar to other open spaces in the area, citing the night market site in Jalan Abdul Samad or the carpark near the YMCA building.

"Pavements are for pedestrians, tourists and the visually impaired community of Brickfields, they are not for business. The authorities have painstakingly built tactile walkways for the blind but they allow petty traders to occupy these walkways, which defeats the purpose," he said.

He said apart from the blind, tourists and shoppers would be forced to risk their lives walking along the busy road because the bazaar took up all the space along the pavement and cars were parked haphazardly.

"The bazaar, which sells the same things we do, affects our business tremendously. Yet, we still need to pay rentals as high as RM15,000 as well as salaries for our employees," he said.

"Enough is enough, we do not want to suffer anymore. We are only fighting for our rights," he said, adding that the association has yet to receive any reply to the many letters, including a legal letter, sent to DBKL highlighting the problem.

The traders also brought up the issue of alleged middlemen illegally collecting between RM2,000 and RM6,000 for every licence issued by DBKL.

"I had to pay the middle men RM2,000 to set up a stall in front of my own shop when, in fact, the licence costs less than RM50.

"Some of us have tried to apply for the licence with DBKL directly but were rejected, we were asked to approach the two middlemen instead," a trader who declined to be named said.

Secretary G. Gunabalan pointed out that the association was newly formed by all the stakeholders to lobby for the cause in one voice.

He said documents to register the association had been submitted to the relevant authorities but they had yet to receive a response.

"Nevertheless, we are continuing our battle, urging the authorities to issue business licences with common sense. Bazaars should be located in an open area, not in front of someone's shop," he said.

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said DBKL was ready to listen to the stakeholders.

However, he said they would also have to accept if stalls were located on the public walkway during the Deepavali period.

"If the stall is directly in front of their building, then we have to listen to the owners if they do not want any stalls in front of their premises.

"However, they cannot demand that no stalls be placed on the public walkway because the public walkway belongs to the government," Saravanan said, adding that more than 700 temporary licences would be issued to petty traders in the Brickfields area.

"Last year, there were complaints that some stalls covered the tactile walkways for the blind. This year, we will take that into consideration before we allocate the places," said Saravanan.

Saravanan added DBKL had also done well in managing the Ramadan bazaar stalls this year.

"We did not receive many complaints," he said, adding that Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had already asked Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib to relook into the number of stalls given away during the Deepavali period.

Bandar Utama kids attend clinic by former national player

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:10 AM PDT

SOME 40 students from various schools in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya acquired playing techniques from a pro basketball coach during a coaching clinic held at the Bandar Utama Community Centre recently.

Organised by Bandar Utama Residents Association and sponsored by AND1, the clinic was held as a precursor to the upcoming AND1 Streetball Challenge that will be held at the Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 16.

During the clinic, the students received insights into playing the game from former national player Tan Kee Hian.

Kee Hian said the clinic was conducted with the objective of promoting the AND1 3 on 3 Streetball event as well as to promote basketball among the youth in the area.

"The goal here is to promote basketball. The participants from this clinic also would be forming a team to participate in the AND1 Streetball Challenge," he said adding that the participants of the clinic were taught the fundamental skills of basketball including shooting and lay up during the clinic.

"A lot of kids love to play basketball but many of them do not have the opportunity to learn the proper techniques. Hopefully with more of these clinics and events like the AND1 Streetball Challenge, they can be more inspired to play the game and improve to be better players," he said.

Bandar Utama Residents Association secretary Lilian Fang said the clinic was one of the activities held by the association for the youth of the area.

"We wanted to organise something more fun and active for the young as one of the segments that we felt we have not been promoting for the residents was youth and sports," she said.

"Hopefully, we can send a few teams for the AND1 Streetball Challenge and the youngsters can use the skills they have learnt during the clinic," she added.

The main organiser of the AND1 Streetball Challenge is Ossia World of Golf Sdn Bhd while the official partners are Milo, StarMetro, and One FM Radio Station and NBL Sports Marketing.

The prizes are RM900 cash and goodies for the champions, RM600 cash and goodies for the second-placed team, RM300 cash and goodies for the third-placed team while the fourth-placed team will receive AND1 products.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 5 September 2012

The Star Online: Metro: Central

The Star Online: Metro: Central

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