Netizens feel TAR bazaar should move

 

Pic taken in 2018 showing people shopping along the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) bazaar. -- NSTP File Pix

KUALA LUMPUR: Traders and patrons of Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ramadan bazaar must be willing to move to bigger locations, such as Jalan Raja or Padang Merbok, to allow it to be operated according to the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the pandemic.

Members of the public who voiced their opinions on social media agreed that having the open-air market in the heart of the city here was not suitable as the original location would make it difficult to enforce physical distancing.

Facebook user ChipsYap PS said the authorities should consider other spacious venues, such as Dataran Merdeka and Padang Merbok.

"Sure, there will be grumblers who say it is too far, but do you want to reduce the risk or you want to make things worse — and this (question) I direct to both shoppers and stall holders.

"If larger spacious locations can be used and stalls are laid out side by side only on one side, then the visitors' movement can be more spread out. The sides of the river could be used to set up stalls too," ChipsYap PS wrote.

The New Straits Times frontpaged a report on the issue on Wednesday.

Sources stated that City Hall's Licensing and Business Development Department had called traders for a meeting on Tuesday and told them that the National Security Council had approved the shift from Jalan Raja, where they were relocated in 2019 following the pandemic.

The baazar that was slated to operate at a capacity of 208 lots on March 16 was also set to start operating on April 17, four days into Ramadan.

It was learnt that after the meetings, when traders were in the midst of making payments to secure their lots, they were suddenly informed that the earlier decision had been revoked.

The traders said they were now waiting to hear from City Hall on their business location.

Another Facebook user, Low Low, also said the stalls should be able to operate for longer hours.

"People who don't want to join the crowd can come during off-peak hours," he wrote.

Social media user Steven Tan CT said strict SOP enforcement was needed so traders could earn an income. He also suggested that the stalls be separated according to goods and products.

"They need to make a living too," he wrote. - NST