THE problems arising from the Brickfields Deepavali Bazaar have grabbed headlines over the past week, with more than one party speaking up for their rights.
Having covered most of the issues, I feel that the problems could have been easily averted if a few ground rules had been set from the beginning.
The first problem that cropped up was that the tact tile pavement built to help the blind was covered by the bazaar stalls, hampering the movement of the visually impaired.
Obstruct ion course: As the tactile path has been blocked, the blind community has to wade through the bazaar stalls but traders say many help them out. In the past, the stalls were more widely spaced along the pavement in Jalan Tun Sambanthan. This was until the pavements were widened under a government stimulus package.
During a press conference organised for those involved in the matter to put forward their views, the blind community highlighted the difficulty of walking from Public Bank to KFC in Little India Brickfields.
“The Government built the facilities for the blind, but by covering it, they (the stall operators) are wasting precious resources,” said Ajong Sidim, 55, a blind legal executive.
It is claimed that on the first day of the bazaar, a blind man injured himself on the beam of a stall and was attended to by a doctor nearby.
During StarMetro’s visit, our photographer took images of the blind dicing with danger as they walked on the edge of the pavement. A stumble could easily end in tragedy.
Listening to these stories can be moving, but the bazaar traders have their side of the story as well.
The traders said that they would help the blind whenever they spotted someone walking near their lots. They were adamant that they had done everything they possibly could to make it easier for the visually impaired. However, they are not always around to help.
Each morning when people are rushing to work, the blind are also up and about, and, during that time of day, the traders are not there to lend a hand.
Hearing about the negative news reports, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) asked the traders to ensure the tiles were not obstructed and that partitions be removed.
The traders were unhappy with the instructions. Criticised by many for their apparent lack of civic-consciousness, the traders say they have legitimate concerns of their own.
Many of them say they have spent more than RM50,000 purchasing their merchandise, and paying for the stall rental and workers. Some even say they have debts that can only be cleared once their stock has been sold off.
Their lots are congested and already customers find it hard to look through the products. Making way for the tact-tiles will make their lots smaller.
“Why didn’t DBKL inform us of the rules earlier before we were given the lots? Now they disturb us in the midst of doing our business,” said M. Tamilarasi, 30.
The operator of the neighbouring stall said their business had also dwindled due to the presence of foreign traders who have purchased lots from locals. The foreigners are charging very low prices as they take their stock directly from factories in India and Pakistan.
Now the business owners along Jalan Tun Sambanthan are looking to meet with Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail to voice their grouses.
The business owners complainedthe bazaar stalls are blocking their shop fronts. Customers have difficulty finding the shops and many opt to purchase items at the stalls because they are cheaper.
Some of the business owners have been forced to rent the stall lots in front of their shops so they can try to maintain a level of business.
They are upset that DBKL consented to setting up a large number of stalls (150) along the stretch from Public Bank to Eon Bank.
DBKL in turn said it was only providing business opportunities for the less fortunate and DBKL’s deputy director-general of socio-economic development Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz said the bazaar had been set up at the same location in the past.
To DBKL’s credit, it has worked to mitigate the problem.
The local authority have tried to ensure the traders abide by the new rulings and provide the necessary space for the blind.
However, one does wonder if this is enough. Could this have been avoided simply by having proper planning and holding meetings with the stakeholders?
Perhaps the bazaar should be shifted to an open field in Brickfields. But even then, many will argue the already crowded area lacks proper open spaces.
Hopefully next year, these problems will not crop up again. To the affected parties, I hope you can learn to give and take. After all, Deepavali is only a few days away. In the spirit of the Festival of Lights, work together and enjoy the profits of your labour.
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