DBKL adding more pain to suffering traders, says MP

 

Instead of adding to their burden, DBKL should lower assessment rates for Petaling Street traders by 10%, says Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lin.

PETALING JAYA: At a time when traders at Petaling Street are struggling to make ends meet and shops there remain shuttered, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has come up with a strange ruling – it has asked the traders to repaint their shops.

An annoyed Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun has told DBKL to reverse the directive, after receiving complaints from traders shocked over the directive.

“How can DBKL ask the traders to repaint buildings at this time?

“No business for the past one-over year. No money. And this additional cost will burden them,” he told FMT.

Fong said it would cost about RM10,000 to repaint each building, adding that traders do not have the money to do this.

“I have been told unofficially that they may retract their decision. Let’s wait and see,” he said.

Instead of adding to their burden, Fong proposed that assessment rates for Petaling Street traders be reduced by 10%. The traders could then channel the money from the assessment rates to spruce up their buildings.

“During hard times, everyone needs to help one another or at least look at ways to help,” he said, adding that new measures or directives should not burden businesses hit by the Covid-19 crisis.

Most businesses in the Klang Valley are struggling to survive due to prolonged lockdowns under Phase 1 of the national recovery plan.

The Star reported that DBKL issued the directive to Petaling Street traders under Section 75 of the Local Government Act 1971 that requires tenants to wash or repaint the buildings with quality paint within 30 days. - FMT