What was meant to be a regular visitation on the job turned into a rowdy confrontation for a group of DAP elected representatives as angry traders gave them a hostile reception.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, together with Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San, and Kota Alam Shah’s V Ganabathirao, who is also a Selangor exco, was paying a visit to a new Deepavali bazaar in Sungai Way this evening.

However, some traders - angry at having to move to the new bazaar from the adjacent street - blocked the elected representatives and local councillors who were accompanying them, demanding that the issue be resolved.

The group also hurled insults and expletives at the DAP lawmakers.

When contacted, Pua chastised the protesters for behaving like gangsters.

"Some of them are PKR members... I will be writing a letter of complaint to the menteri besar. I am sure PKR will not condone such actions," he told Malaysiakini .

When contacted, Lau said the traders were angry that they had to move from their old bazaar site at Jalan SS9A/13 to Jalan SS9A/12 in Sungai Way.

"A lot of vulgar words were shouted at us but we were not provoked," he told Malaysiakini .

He pointed out that the old site was on a very narrow road, whereas the new location is next to a Hindu temple and should be be able to draw in the crowds.

Pua said the decision to move was based on complaints of traffic congestion. The new location, he said, had eight more stalls, bringing the number of vendors to 26.

The MP claimed the complainants used to monopolise the old bazaar spot and collected hefty fees for those who want to set up shop.

"At the new site, the middlemen have been cut out and traders obtain licenses directly with MBPJ, paying only RM95 for the license to trade for four weeks.

"The authorities must not budge or succumb to such threats from gangsters who are just trying to earn illegal income off the Indian hawkers.

"Today was proof of their bullying tactics when they prevented the stalls from opening at the new site," said Pua.

Lau said despite the incident, the local council's decision to move the bazaar will stay.

"I am not going to make a U-turn at the moment," he said.