Traders move to new site

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THE relocation of the Bandar Country Homes night market to about 200m away from the present site went on smoothly with the help of the police, Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) enforcement officers and JKP (Residents Committee) volunteers.

Trouble was expected on Sunday from the previous contractor of the night market but with the police and MPS present, the relocation went on smoothly.

Last Saturday, the contractor had painted the lots and told some of the traders that he was still in charge even though the night market has been taken over by the JKP.

The contractor used to collect RM3 from each legal trader and RM6 from illegal traders.

With about 600 traders in the area, the contractor used to collect about RM1,800 every Sunday.

In business: The night market traders at the new site.

The problem started when the contractor started to collect about RM40 from each lot in order to get licences from MPS but the licences were not given to the stall owners.

According to a market traders’ representative known as H. Zainon, this happened last year and the traders had submitted a petition on the matter to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim on May 6.

Councillor Gunarajah R. George, after taking over the area, put a stop to the contractor and the market is now handled by the Residents’ Committee.

He also pushed for the relocation of the night market.

Zainon said he was happy the new councillor went all out to ensure the traders were not cheated and funds were managed properly.

Gunarajah said 40% of the night market traders did not have licences and that a booth had been set up for them to apply for licences from MPS.

“The police and MPS enforcement officers ensured everything went smoothly,” he said.

“Previously, the night market was located on Jalan KB 1 and about 300 residents from Kota Bidari could not use the only access road.

“The night market also disrupted activities at the Arul Migu Sri Subramaniam temple and Zhong Yuan temple as events could not be held on Sundays,’’ he said.

Zhong Yuan temple president David Ha said with the relocation, worshippers could now easily access the road leading to the temple on Sundays.

Arul Migu Sri Subramaniam temple secretary S. Karthigesu said it was impossible to hold any events on Sunday at the temple previously due to the entrance being blocked by the night market traders.