DBKL demolishes illegal prayer stall in Kuchai Lama

THE construction of an illegal prayer stall or tokong at a corner of Jalan 1/116B in Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park was cut short when Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers arrived to remove the structure.

About 20 officers from various departments, police personnel and a representative from Seputeh MP’s office were on site on Thursday evening to ensure the demolition, which came on the heels of public complaints, went smoothly.

They used drills to break up the walls of the structure and carted the debris off in a lorry.

Despite issuing an earlier warning notice to the owner to dismantle the structure, contractors had continued to build it.

Irate members of the public and business owners had called StarMetro to complain about the matter when they saw that work was continuing at the site.

Construction of the illegal prayer stall, located near a petrol station and TNB substation, had carried on despite public complaints. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star

They were worried as the structure was being built next to a petrol station and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) substation, raising safety concerns.

The land the structure sits on belongs to DBKL.

On Oct 3, DBKL issued a notice to the owner under Section 46 (1) (a) of Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 citing obstruction issues and ordered the structure to be demolished.

The owner is believed to operate a restaurant nearby.

The Star readers expressed happiness with the action taken.

Despite a DBKL notice to stop work, construction had continued at the site.

“This is a job well done by DBKL,” said KC Lim, a business owner in the area.

“I certainly did not expect DBKL to move so fast, but I am happy they did,” added Clarence Chan, another business owner.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok too was glad DBKL had acted quickly.

Residents living around Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park hope the local authority continues to take action on other illegal structures put up in the area.

They say many are situated on pedestrian walkways and narrow lanes, impeding people’s movements.