A man who claimed to represent Ramadan bazaar traders at Jalan Masjid India said the person who collected hefty payments for lots was indeed a ‘Noorhisyam’ – but not Bersatu's Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim.
The trader, Mohamad Azman Abdul Rahman, said both also go by the nickname ‘Sam.’
He also said that the lots in question, which allegedly cost thousands of ringgit to rent, were not located along Jalan Masjid India.
"There was another person with the same name who sold the bazaar lots. But Noorhisyam from Bukit Bintang Bersatu was the one who got slandered.
"Logically speaking, who would pay RM5,000 for a lot for five days? Even the tents were provided by me to help the traders.
"So there is no issue of collecting up to RM5,000 for a lot," he told a press conference where the bazaar was held.
Noorhisyam, the Bukit Bintang Bersatu Youth chief, had been accused of misusing political connections to secure rights to 80 bazaar lots along Jalan Masjid India.
The 80 lots were secured from DBKL for RM6,238 in total. However, he was then accused of renting these out for as high as RM5,000 apiece, making up to RM400,000 in the process.
Noorhisyam subsequently denied scalping the traders or collecting more than the cost as payment.
DBKL later claimed that they issued the lots despite their initial reluctance because it received a support letter from DAP Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.
Fong, however, said that he was assured by Noorhisyam that no payment would be collected, and that the letter was meant to help traders who could not obtain licences for the Ramadan bazaar.
Several traders interviewed at Jalan Masjid India during the month of Ramadan claimed they paid more than RM3,000 a lot.
Baseless claims
However, Azman insisted that the claims against Noorhisyam and Fong were "baseless".
He added that only 40 lots were used, instead of the approved 80, as food trucks were already occupying some of them.
"We gave the lots to traders in need. They didn't have to pay anything. Everything was paid for.
"So claims that Sam got RM400,000 is untrue. It's slander," he said.
Azman said he was in charge of setting up the tents and bringing the traders in.
He added the RM6,238 charged by DBKl was also footed by Persatuan Peniaga Melayu Pasar Harian Selayang. - Mkini
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