Bazaar project in Kajang gets council’s nod

The Star, Saturday, 23 April 2016

KAJANG Municipal Council (MPKj) has approved the proposed Uptown Putra Kajang bazaar project in Taman Putra Kajang, but with conditions.

MPKj deputy president Zamani Ahmad Mansor said the bazaar operator had to follow rules set by the council before an operating licence could be issued.

“We are giving the operator three months to adhere to the rules, failing which, we will cancel the application,” he said after chairing the council’s full board meeting.

Among the rules are to submit the Temporary Building Permit plan and the Traffic Impact Assessment report and only 150 stalls are allowed at the bazaar.

Other rules include hiring garbage disposal contractors registered with MPKj, having Rela officers to control traffic and ensuring no business equipment is left behind overnight.

Zamani said the bazaar could operate only after three months when MPKj determined that the operator had adhered to the set conditions.

This was the second time Taman Kajang Impian residents protested against the bazaar since 2014.

“Back then, the operators set up the structure illegally and it was torn down by MPKj.

“This time, however, they have received conditional approval from the council,” said Taman Kajang Impian Islamic Residents Association president Azli Yusoff.

The residents had the same worries when the bazaar first opened in 2014.

Azli said the bazaar would cause traffic congestion.

“The Jalan Taman Kajang Impian stretch is usually congested between 8pm and 10pm, as there is a tuition centre and an Islamic religious school nearby.

“Buses would be parked there and parents would also be waiting in their cars for their children,” he said.

He foresees the congestion getting worse as there are not enough parking bays for bazaar visitors.

“We were informed that there will be parking lots available in the bazaar compound, but it will not be enough,” he said.

He added that the bazaar operator had obtained approval to run the business on Friday and Saturday nights, from 9pm to 2am.

“Right now it is only twice a week. But they might turn it into a nightly affair,” he said.