A group of residents in Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur, who can no longer bear the pollution stemming from the hawker stalls opposite their homes, are calling on the City Hall to act.

Met recently, several residents of Jalam Ambong Kiri said they were forced to endure the foul stench from the clogged drains ( see pic ), strewn garbage and smoke emitted from the stalls.

One resident, who requested anonymity, alleged that some of the hawkers even dumped rotten fruits and vegetables into the drains, which causes the area to flood during heavy rains.

However, the residents are even more concerned with the construction of a structure which they claim is illegal and would be rented out to hawkers later.

It is learnt through the residents that last year, a fire swept through three of the hawkers stalls which almost engulfed their homes as the houses and the stalls were only separated by a narrow road.

Repeated pleas

The residents said that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had previously tore down the stalls twice, the last time being as recent as February.

However, the stalls mushroomed again. The residents were even more anxious after seeing the increased construction ( pic ) efforts.

The residents were also worried that should another fire occur among the stalls, their houses would not be twice spared.

The residents have made repeated pleas to the City Hall to take action but to no avail, and have even sought the assistance of Kepong member of parliament Dr Tan Seng Giaw.

Contacted later, Tan said he had informed the higher echelons of DBKL regarding the residents grouses, and had also spoke to the council planning department chief Chiam Soon Hock.

Chiam had revealed that the present construction works on the land was not approved by the City Hall and that he would 'look into the matter'.

According to Tan, a four-term MP for the area, the piece of land presently occupied by the hawkers was both meant as a green lung and road reserve.

"There have been plans to widen the road to ease congestions ( pic ), but the authorities have found difficulties in relocating the hawkers," said Tan.

Attempts to reach DBKL enforcement director Kamaruddin Omar and Chiam for comments were unsuccessful.