Future of Ayer Panas traders in limbo as DBKL not renewing licences

TWENTY-eight traders at Medan Selera Taman Rekreasi Ayer Panas in Kampung Semarak, Kuala Lumpur are worried about their livelihood as their licences will not be renewed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) next month.

Some of the traders are currently trading without permission due to expired licences while others said their permits would expire in September.

Traders said they were informed by DBKL that the food court was no longer under its purview as the land it was situated on had been sold.

“I am having sleepless nights thinking about my family’s future,’’ said Zaiman Tail, 28.

Zaiman, who sells nasi lemak and roti canai, said the authorities should hold a dialogue with traders to explain the matter.

Zaiman is having sleepless nights thinking about his future.

“Why do we have to keep hearing about this from other people? DBKL, please be professional and talk to us,’’ said Zaiman.

The traders’ representative Mohd Radzi Jaafar said it had been a struggle to make a living since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We never had a chance to make money after the pandemic hit in 2020,” he said.

“We have been pushed around for many years and we are fed up,’’ added Syahizan Mat Isa, another food trader.

“If we are asked to move, how am I going to feed my family?’’ asked the 46-year-old.

Mohd Faizal Jaafar said he was informed by a DBKL officer that traders’ licences would not be renewed.

“This is very distressing because we were initially relocated from Medan Selera Semarak in 2019 as the land we traded on was private property.

Syahizan is tired of being pushed around and kept in the dark.

“We were then offered this place and three years down the road, the land is sold and we have to move yet again,” he said.

Traders also complained about the money they had invested to build the stalls from scratch when they moved in four years ago.

When contacted, a DBKL officer confirmed that the site where traders were operating had been sold to a third party.

“Whether or not they can continue operating on the land will depend on the new owner,” the spokesperson said.

“Until an application is made (to the new owners for them to stay and continue to trade), they can remain there for now.”