Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, is where we celebrate the victory of good over evil. Today the ‘evil’ before the Hindu traders at Sungai Way, Petaling Jaya, seems to be the local council, city councillors, state assemblypersons and member of Parliament.

These are the very people who come out to seek the mandate from the over 16 percent Indian Malaysian voters in this area, and those who are appointed by them, and after all this is done only every five years.

These local traders know their business and know where indeed where the customers would come so that they could make some extra money to celebrate this Deepavali, do justice to them. To ask them to move even one kilometre is wrong, it would ‘kill’ their business.

Where did this idea come from and when was it discussed with the stakeholders, the traders or the residents associations?

The parties who would profit from the traders at other times must now come forward to ensure that the traders would get the place they want, after all it is Deepavali.

Be enlightened. Sure, there would be problems like traffic and others, but since when were the MP, assemblypersons, city councillors and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) concerned about all this?

Examples would be the one-way traffic loop, walkways, pedestrian crossing, potholes, vehicles going on the ‘wrong’ side of the roads, no bus stops, bus doors being on the ‘wrong’ side.

We Petaling Jaya residents have faced all these in the last 12 months and we are still going the same way along the one-way loop.

Let the traders do their business without your ‘expert’ advice where they may make profits. Instead, clean up the one-way loop which could do with some Deepavali lights.

The MP and assemblypersons should spend their time getting loans from the Selangor state government for these traders to assist them this Deepavali. This would be far better than asking them to move without their consent and approval.

Empowerment begins with the grassroots. The people should be consulted before any action is taken by the local authority or elected representatives. These traders are the grassroots here. Respect them, they are your bread and butter, among others here.

Be enlightened.

Let me invite YB Sivarasa to visit Deepavali bazaar

Some friendly advice for my friend YB Tony Pua

MBPJ’s clarification on Deepavali bazaar move

Traders irked at not being consulted on Deepavali bazaar move

DAP reps face rowdy confrontation, insults in pre-Deepavali visit