Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
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KUALA LUMPUR: Night market traders at Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) have opted not to resume operations until the authorities allowed them to sell clothes and accessories.
Lorong TAR Hawkers and Traders' Association president Azkhalim Suradi said he would not resume the night market for now as more than half the 220 operators were selling non-essential items or clothes.
Resuming trade now would see these traders deprived of business, he said.
"I'll get an earful if we open up now. They also need to make a living. Those who sell food and essential items don't even come up to 100 lots. So even if we do open, we will not get the crowd needed to sustain their business."
Azkhalim said as dining in was also disallowed for night market traders, it would further slash their business and income.
For now, he would just wait for Kuala Lumpur City Hall's update on the standard operating procedures and take it from there.
Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
This material may be protected under Malaysia Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies, reproductions or copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized materials for study or research.
Kuala Lumpur Night Market Management Organisation secretary Roy James Charles said 70 per cent of the night market traders in the federal capital sold only clothes and accessories.
"This decision is a serious deprivation," he said adding that malls could sell clothes, although their ventilation was not as good as these outdoor traders."
He said the association, which represented more than 50 night markets in the city, would appeal the decision.
Charles revealed that under the first Movement Control Order (MCO), only 55 of the 92 night markets in Kuala Lumpur had resumed operations. And before the recent MCO, most were operating at half strength or less.
The list of standard operating procedures (SOP) for night markets has also not been updated by the National Security Council.
Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
This material may be protected under Malaysia Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies, reproductions or copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized materials for study or research.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall has posted a list of SOP for night markets and bazaars on its Facebook account. However, it is unclear whether or not the list is a finalised version.
Traders argue that although the SOP allows the trade of essentials such as food and rations, it does not explicitly say that clothes are disallowed.
Some traders also claim Selangor has allowed the sale of clothes in morning and night markets.
Kuala Lumpur Bumiputra Traders and Hawkers Association vice-president Datuk Muhamad Baba Kutty claimed that the
KL free trade zone traders were allowed to trade without registering for licences.
He said these traders routinely breached SOP by selling a gamut of items from foodstuff to used goods at roadsides without legal repercussions.
"Morning and night markets are the biggest targets, so the authorities come to us when it comes to fines and compounds, not the smaller traders. At the end of the day, we are the biggest losers, whether we are open or closed."
Epidemiologist Dr Malina Osman said it was all right for night markets to reopen under strictly supervised SOP.
"If the traders and the customers are fully vaccinated and all ministry guidelines are followed, it is okay. However, if there are brought-in-dead cases linked to the facility, then it has to be closed."
Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason said it was time to resume the operations of these community markets because of their accessibility and affordability.
"These markets offer cheap and affordable goods for the B40 and it allows this group to also trade and generate an income. Not everyone can buy goods at hypermarkets and supermarkets."
