I would like to clarify the phrases published in your news article yesterday titled ‘Traders irked at not being consulted on Deepavali bazaar move’ .
“... 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…”
The relevant official meetings at MBPJ conducted in 2014 and 2015 mention as follows:
During the last week of Deepavali (13 Oct 2014 to 20 Oct 2014), Mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad accompanied by MBPJ’s officers visited the Deepavali Bazaar after receiving numerous complains from the public.
During this visit, Mayor Datin Paduka Alinah informed the traders that 2014 will be the last year that the Deepavali Bazaar will be held at SS9A/13. The traders agreed with both the move and the new location.
1) Note that in ‘Minit Mesyuarat Penyelarasan Pengeluaran Permit Deepavali Tahun 2014' on Sept 9, 2014,
“2.12 Ahli Majlis Encik Azri mencadangkan agar pada tahun hadapan (2015) lokasi bazar permit Deepavali di kawasan Sg Way di tukar ke lokasi baharu yang lebih sesuai dan selamat dan tidak melibatkan gangguan kepada orang awam.” This meeting was chaired by Ahli Majlis Encik Suriase and this was agreed and adopted by MBPJ’s Full Board sitting on Sept 30, 2014.
2) On March 10, 2015, in ‘Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kawalan Perniagaan dan Kesihatan’, the meeting agreed to the following:
“Puan Pengarah, Jabatan Pelesenan memaklumkan Banner Notis makluman pemindahan tapak bazar Deepavali dari SS9A/13 kepada SS9A/12 telah disediakan oleh Bahagian Perhubungan Awam.
Encik Oon Chong Ling memaklumkan tindakan pemasangan banner Notis pemindahan perlu dipasang lebih awal untuk makluman peniaga bagi peniaga membuat persiapan awal berhubung perpindahan lokasi bazar ini.”
On March 27, 2015, in MBPJ’s 3rd Full Board sitting for 2015, the above was adopted without any objection from any councillors.
“... K Saminathan, who is also the chairperson of the Sungai Way Small Traders Association, said they were only informed about this two weeks ago...”
On June 8, 2015, MBPJ Council received a letter titled ‘MEMOHON MENGEKALKAN TAPAK PERNIAGAAN MUSIM PERAYAAN DEEPAVALI DI JALAN SS 9A/13 SUNGAI WAY’.
This letter was signed by Mr Saminathan as Pengerusi Persatuan Peniaga Kecil Sungai Way. It means Mr Saminathan was engaged much earlier than what he claimed.
It is clear from the above that the traders are aware of the problems with the ‘old’ site, were engaged at the highest level from MBPJ in discussion and is fully aware of the council’s decision.
Let me invite YB Sivarasa to visit Deepavali bazaar
Some friendly advice for my friend YB Tony Pua
Give the Deepavali traders the area they want
Traders irked at not being consulted on Deepavali bazaar move
DAP reps face rowdy confrontation, insults in pre-Deepavali visit
SEAN OON is a councillor of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
