TEMPORARY hawkers trading along Jalan SS2/62, Petaling Jaya for a month in conjunction with Chinese New Year were happy with the fair chance given by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on the allocation of lots but were saddened by bad weather conditions that hampered their business.
It was highlighted by StarMetro on Nov 26 that many hawkers, some who have been trading along that stretch for many years, were unable to buy the application forms from MBPJ for the 83 lots, as they were sold out in just 30 minutes.
The applications were on a first-come, first-served basis instead of individual assessments done in the previous years.
Cookies are some of the goods sold at the dry market. The council also did not state it in their notices.
MBPJ had later considered all the appeals and conducted interviews to select genuine and deserving applicants.
However, since the start of their business on Dec 21, PJ North Federal Development Coordinator Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou said the wet season had forced many to close shop early and seek for some form of subsidy for their lot rentals.
“Currently they are paying RM133 for the rental of one lot and another RM100 for the licence, plus the newly implemented RM200 refundable deposit for cleanliness.
“I suggested to MBPJ to give them some form of subsidy for the rental under humanitarian grounds due to their poor business.
“I also feel there is no need for cleanliness deposit as it is a dry market, with most of them selling home decoration items and clothes.
“These hawkers look forward to earning extra income to support them for the whole year and have already built a customer base.
“This area will look somewhat like Petaling Street and MBPJ should support this idea as it invites many urban Chinese living in the area to shop here instead of going elsewhere.
“I also suggest MBPJ to waive all lot rental fees for temporary hawkers trading during festivals as it is a good promotion for tourism by drawing people to visit the place.
“Besides that, not all the allocated lots are in good condition as some are standing on top of potholes and near clogged drains.
“This is just a suggestion to add cheer to the hawkers, even more so now that they are affected by bad weather,” he said.
He added that it was predicted that Malaysia would experience 20% to 40% more rainfall for the period in the coming month.
A 54-year-old hawker Thangaraja Suppiah, who was conducting his business in the area for the second year, said in the first week of trading, he already had to close early three times due to the heavy rain.
“We start business at 6am and are supposed to clear by 2.30pm but when it gets cloudy, I will start packing my stuff because I sell clothes and could not risk getting them wet as I do not have proper shades.
“Business has been slow thus far compared to last year, which may also be caused by the position of my lot which is somewhere in the middle unlike the corner lot that I got last year,” he said.
Another hawker Muhammad Ariff Shaputra, 20, who sells handbags, said sales had been slow and hoped it would pick up soon.
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