DBKL to refund bazaar deposits but questions linger on lot fees
- UPDATED 4.58PM | Added details on fees traders need to pay to DBKL and bazaar organisers.
CORONAVIRUS | Kuala Lumpur City Hall will be refunding deposits paid by Ramadan bazaar traders in the capital, which have been banned by the government during the movement control order period.
However, questions remain regarding fees traders have paid to traders associations and bazaar organisers...
- UPDATED 4.58PM | Added details on fees traders need to pay to DBKL and bazaar organisers.
CORONAVIRUS | Kuala Lumpur City Hall will be refunding deposits paid by Ramadan bazaar traders in the capital, which have been banned by the government during the movement control order period.
However, questions remain regarding fees traders have paid to traders associations and bazaar organisers.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri said at a press conference that he had been informed that DBKL would return deposits to all traders.
Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa, had said that the deposit was RM120 per trader.
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil clarified that the RM120 is a licensing fee to DBKL, which traders will pay on top of additional fees to bazaar organisers so they can secure a lot for their shop.
He said overall, traders will pay at least between RM350 to RM500 - including the RM120 to DBKL - to the organisers, depending on where the bazaar is held.
Fahmi said some associations also charge a RM50 membership fee, and another RM50 for cleaning fees although DBKL has already paid Alam Flora to take care of any cleanup.
Traders that Malaysiakini spoke to previously, revealed that they had paid up to RM2,000 to rent their lots.
The traders said they want their money back to help support themselves through the MCO.
Fahmi estimated that there may be as many as 4,500 traders affected in Kuala Lumpur by the Ramadan bazaar cancellations.
He said DBKL and the Federal Territories Ministry must ensure their welfare and also provide support to the bazaar organisers and trade associations.
"If possible, DBKl or the ministry should support them (organisers and associations), because they have been doing work all this while," he said.
He said if a decision on bazaars in Kuala Lumpur had been made earlier, it would have allowed for organisers to manage their cash flow and return fees to traders.
Going forward, he said DBKL and the Federal Territories Ministry must have a game plan for the future of the affected traders.
"Some kind of clarity in terms of planning needs to be in place," he said.
He also mooted DBKL explore whether a central kitchen concept as is being planned in Selangor can be implemented in the federal capital.
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