Deepavali traders who faced off with Selangor DAP representatives on Thursday fear losing their income due to the change in the bazaar location.

Forced to move from Jalan SS9A/13 in Sungai Way to the adjacent Jalan SS9A/12, the traders are also angry that they were not consulted on plans to relocate their trading area.

"My family has been trading there for 15 years. We've been licensed to trade at Jalan SS9A/13 all these while but this year, they won't let us trade there," trader K Saminathan told Malaysiakini .

Malaysian Indian Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association deputy president G Gunaraj, who accompanied Saminathan, said other traders have been there for almost two decades.

"These people are petty traders. They borrow money to do business and expect to make some profit from Deepavali," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Gunaraj said they were upset that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had not consulted them before relocating the market to the adjacent street, ostensibly to facilitate better traffic flow.

The move, he said, could be bad for business, as most customers are used to going to the old spot.

He added, the management of the temple where the new market is at, are also unhappy with the relocation, as the traders are now blocking the parking space to the temple.

Memo to stay

The matter has been raised with Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who has reportedly instructed MBPJ to settle the matter at the councillor level.

Thirteen out of 24 councillors involved in the decision-making process have supported a memorandum for the traders to stay, according to a copy of the signed petition sighted by Malaysiakini .

Gunaraj said it is now up to Petaling Jaya mayor Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain to make a decision.

In the memorandum dated Oct 7, the councillors said the traders can stay where they are if they set up smaller tents on only one side of the road, and get Rela officers to facilitate traffic.

They also agreed to let seven traders who applied for a permit to set up business at the new location on Jalan SS9A/12 to remain there to test the market there.

If the new site is successful, then the original site will close for good next year, the memorandum said.

Yesterday Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, together with Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San, and Kota Alam Shah’s V Ganabathirao, visited the new site.

However, they encountered a hostile crowd who heckled them and demanded the issue be resolved.

Gunaraj expressed regret over the incident but hoped that Pua and the other DAP representatives would take the traders' plight into consideration.

"We respect Pua, and all the YBs who have assisted; we want this matter to be resolved amicably.

"Pua and the others have been championing national issues, but I hope they can assist in this issue too. These are voters, and I hope they will be considerate enough to give the traders a hearing," he said.