No instruction from DBKL to close shops, says mayor

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz denies Bersih 2.0's claim that City Hall had instructed traders to close for business during the rally on Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0 should not blame Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for losses suffered by traders on the day of the Bersih 5 rally, says Mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz.

He said this in denying the electoral reform group’s claim that City Hall had instructed shop owners to close their shops during the rally on Saturday.

“I do not know who instructed them to close. I did not issue any instruction for traders to close their shops because according to law, it is up to the shop owners when they want to open or close for business,” Amin said.

Yesterday, Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Thomas Fann said traders who suffered losses should seek redress from DBKL, as some traders had closed their shops on orders from DBKL.

However, Amin said DBKL only had the right to instruct pasar malam traders and roadside traders to close their stalls and not premises located in shoplots in the city.

“We are in charge of licensing. So, for instance, if we instruct a pasar malam trader to close shop, then they have to do so. However, when it comes to premises, it is up to them whether they want to open their shop or not, including during Bersih 5.”

“For those trading by the roadside, we can instruct them to close for certain reasons, be it for a day, a week and even a month, and they would have to comply.

It was reported yesterday that a hawkers’ association said their members suffered business losses amounting to RM500,000 in Jalan Masjid India, the vicinity of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and other parts of the city, where rally participants had gathered. -FMT