It seems thugs are getting braver nowadays and that money is more important and proper governance. I wonder why we are deteriorating this way. It seems we cannot do  the right thing without so many problems or interference.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Friday July 27, 2012

Discussion over Ramadan carnival location turns awry

A DISCUSSION between Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) officers and a Ramadan bazaar organiser turned awry when thugs threatened the officers and shoved MPKj deputy president and secretary Zulkifli Khalid.

At a recent press conference at Menara MPKj, Zulkifli claimed he was shoved during the discussion to relocate the carnival.

In heated argument: A discussion between MPKj officers and a Ramadan bazaar organiser turned awry when thugs threatened the officers and shoved Zulkifli.

 

“There were 30 enforcement officers but we were outnumbered. I will lodge a police report about this incident.

“One of our officers who was threatened has lodged a police report,” he said.

The council has received applications from three organisers to organise Ramadan carnivals and Ramadan markets at Reko Sentral and Jalan Reko.

The carnival operates 24 hours offering both food and Ramadan items while hawkers at Ramadan markets operate from 4pm to 8pm selling only food.

According to a press statement by MPKj, a survey was carried out to get the opinion of 22 business owners near the site and 13 disagreed to having the carnival there.

Among the reasons are: having the carnival will obstruct the access to their premises, it decreases parking space, creates traffic congestion and obstructs access to nearby clinics in the case of an emergency.

According to MPKj licensing department officer Wahid Berbtti, the location is not suitable as it is a busy area and public parking space is limited.

“The Reko Sentral Night Bazaar site was also the site for last year’s Ramadan market and the council has received many complaints from nearby premise owners when it was approved last year,” he said.

MPKj licensing department officer Zalinda Zainudin said the council has rejected the application for the carnival but approved the one for a Ramadan market on the condition that it is relocated to the site behind the Petronas petrol station in Jalan Reko.

“However, we have received complaints from vendors who claimed that they were required to pay RM3,500 for each bazaar lot.

“If that is true, the organiser is at fault for collecting rent from vendors before getting approval from the council,” she said.

Press members were then showed a print-out version of an online announcement, asking interested vendors to contact the organiser.

MPKj council president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said he will inform the Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and let him decide on the matter.

“The bazaar organiser claimed he has support letters from local assemblymen.

“While the council has the authority to handle such matters, we will hand it to the Menteri Besar as the issue now involves political elements,” he said.

There are three approved Ramadan carnivals and 38 locations for Ramadan markets in the municipal.

Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, one of the assemblyman who signed the support letter, said the reason she signed it was because the bazaar organiser showed her a survey carried out that showed nearby business owners supporting the bazaar.

“Councillors have also complained that during the licensing meeting, the council president vetoed for the rejection of the application for the Ramadan bazaar.

“What is the use of having a meeting when the councillors were not needed to vote on an issue?” she said.

When asked about the contradiction between the survey and the one by the council that states 13 out of 22 rejected having the bazaar in the area, Teo said the press can check with councillors who have a copy of the survey from the the organiser.