Ramadan traders: We were not in Sunday protest

A number of traders at the Ramadan bazaar on Jalan Penang have denied that they were part of a group protesting the Penang Municipal Council's (MPPP) decision to relocate the bazaar to nearby Jalan Phee Choon.

Old-time trader Aminulhaq Nazir Ahmad (right) said he was willing to give the new place a chance if the MPPP would assist in promoting the site and provide additional facilities, such as public toilets.

Although business has been slow since 11am yesterday when Aminulhaq opened his stall at the new site, the textile goods trader said he was hopeful the coming days would bring about more sales.

"This is the first day I opened my stall here and it has been slow since 11am, but business usually picks up after a few days," he told reporters yesterday.

"We hope the situation will improve, especially with the MPPP helping us do a bit of promotion by providing a sound system, festival lights and music, including a disc jockey," added the trader, who has been plying his trade on Jalan Penang for 26 years.

"We were not part of the demonstration on Sunday. It involved just a few traders, who are skeptical about the new place and do not want to invest in it yet," Aminulhaq said.

Another trader, Syed Mubarak Rahman Shah, said he would try the new place out for one or two years, and if he incurred losses in his business, he and the other traders would ask for another site.

New site a 'secluded spot'

On Sunday, Abdul Karim Gulam Ali, who claimed to he a representative of the traders, said the MPPP move to relocate them would cause the some 20 bumiputera traders to incur losses because the new site was a secluded spot.

Abdul Karim said bumiputera traders in Penang have been oppressed since the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition took over the state.

Blaming the Ramadan bazaar for traffic congestion in the area was just an excuse as it was a common occurrence in the state, he said.

National news agency Bernama quoted Abdul Karim as saying that the state's proposed allocation of RM6,000 to provide free tents would not help because the new location was the site of an abandoned project and not a popular spot with shoppers.

Meanwhile, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow (right) said the MPPP had put in much effort to make the new site conducive for business.

Chow said problems cropped up about two to three years ago and MPPP has addressed the issues raised by the traders, which led to most of them agreeing to relocate to a new site.

"Only one trader did not agree with the relocation. With more publicity (about the new site), business should improve," he said.

Chow, who is state DAP chief, called on the MPPP and traders to cooperate to make the Ramadan bazaar a success.

The stalls are rented at RM73 each a month, with no charge for the tent and tables. The MPPP has erected four banners around the former site to inform shoppers about the relocation.