A group of Malay traders has protested against the Penang government for barring them from operating their stalls in the Komtar building during the month of Ramadan.

NONE The group, led by the Komtar Merchants Association (KMA), gathered in front of the state government office on the third floor earlier today.

About 10 policemen stood by observing the situation but did not take any action.

The 27 traders claimed that Komtar Restoration Committee chairperson and Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik had made the decision to prevent them from operating the stalls.

They said they had only been notified yesterday and had already made preparations to operate through the Muslim fasting month.

NONE KMA vice-chairperson Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman ( right ) said that, if the matter is not resolved today, the group will organise a larger demonstration.

"We want to act step by step. If there are too many people, itwould be difficult to control the situation," he said.

He said that a rally during the weekend would have seen more participants. Fewer than 100 turned up today.

State Umno Youth economic bureau chairperson Aziaan Ariffin accused the state government of discriminating against Malay petty traders.

“After the state government demolished Malay hawker stalls, it is now preventing Malay traders from earning a living,” he told reporters.

“This shows that the DAP leaders are practising favouritism and are displaying a very racist attitude. Penang Umno Youth will act more aggressively if this problem is not resolved immediately.”

Protestors irresponsible

PDC properties senior manager Mohd Bazid Abdul Kahar countered the claim, saying the situation has nothing to do with racism.

NONE “It is irresponsible to play on racial sentiments (and to say) that the Malay traders are being oppressed, just to cover up KMA’s failure to pay rental to PDA and its failure to manage the Ramadan bazaar according to rules and regulations,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Bazid said the plan to allow traders to operate in Komtar during Ramadan had been discussed at a meeting with the Komtar committee on Aug 5, and that KMA representatives had been present.

The meeting discussed ways to control the number of stalls to prevent congestion at the entrance of the state government office. A similar situation had led to problems last year.

“As there are already 20 stalls operating on the 3rd floor, PDC has decided to only lease out another 10 spaces at a rental of RM50 per day, the same fee we charge the other stall operators,” he said.

“The approval for the stalls was issued to KMA on the afternoon of Aug 6.”

Speedy solution

Mohd Bazid claimed that KMA had then put up 27 stalls without paying any rental - 17 more than the agreed number.

“PDC is not preventing the stalls from being operated but wants to ensure that rental is paid by KMA and that the procedures laid down by the PDC are complied with.

“It is not right to blame PDC when KMA collected the fees from the 27 traders but (did not remit this) to PDC.”

He said KMA had also acted out of line when dealing with the traders, resulting in their feeling ‘victimised’ and then blaming the PDC for their problems.

NONE However, in order to resolve the matter quickly, PDC has now agreed to allow the additional 17 traders to operate in Komtar.

The 10 stalls originally approved will operate on the fourth floor to prevent congestion on the third floor, but the rental will be RM25. The PDC issued a letter of approval to the traders  today.

But if the KMA continues to withhold the rental, the PDC and the enforcement unit will take action against the traders, warned Mohd Bazid.

'The move is unfair'

Meanwhile, Kuantan, Bernama reports that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the action of the Penang government in allegedly preventing the Malays from doing business at the 'Bazaar Ramadan' at the Komtar was unfair.

He said such action was a far cry from what had been claimed by its Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that his leadership was purportedly to champion the cause of the people.

He said the action taken by the state government not only posed a burden to the people but also oppressed them, which should not have been the case.

"We hope the Penang government under Guan Eng will listen to the problems of the people, especially the bumiputera who are living from hand-to-mouth. There should not be any action that would pose a burden to the people.

"He (Guan Eng) says he is being fair. If he is being fair, he should take everything into consideration. To me, the move is unfair," he told reporters after launching the Pahang Strategic Biodiversity-Biotechnology Plan.

KMA slammed for exploiting Ramadan stall owners