The Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) proposal to limit Chinese New Year sales permits to Chinese traders only is to be opposed by DAP’s Cheras parliamentarian Tan Kok Wai.
In a Facebook posting yesterday, City Hall said the temporary permits to operate stalls for the Chinese New Year goods sales are open for application - but approvals are limited to the Chinese only.
Tan said the Jalan Pasar bazaar in Pudu consists of 235 stalls, half of which are run by the Chinese and the other half by non-Chinese.
"Jalan Pasar has multiracial stalls and customers… We cannot accept this DBKL condition.
"Otherwise, we will be subscribing to a racist policy," he told a group of Jalan Pasar stallowners in Kuala Lumpur today.
Tan called for people of all races be eligible to apply for the temporary permits to operate stalls, regardless of whether these are for Chinese New Year, the fasting month of Ramadan or Deepavali.
DBKL plans to distribute the Kuala Lumpur Chinese New Year sales permit whereby the owners can operate stalls from Jan 24 to Feb 23 next year in conjunction with the Spring Festival.
Weather economic downturn
In a press conference later, Tan said it is crucial to allow hawkers from all ethnic groups to join the festival sales.
"This will help them to weather the economic downturn ahead by earning little money," the DAP acting chairperson added.
Slamming DBKL's policy as racial segregation, Tan (photo) asked whether all non-Chinese hawkers should take leave during Chinese New Year as no permits will be granted.
"Will DBKL implement all-Malays or all-Indians bazaar during the upcoming Ramadan and Deepavali festivals? Should non-Malays and non-Indians take leave too?
"This is going overboard," the veteran DAP parliamentarian said.
The bazaar, Tan said, do sell goods which accommodates all races.
"I have conveyed the message to Kuala Lumpur mayor. Are T-shirts and daily stuff exclusive for a particular race? For example, should nail clippers be banned (by non-Chinese) during Chinese New Year sales?"
He described DBKL officers as "extremist and unreasonable" for coming up with such a policy.
Suspension limited to Jalan Pasar
Later, Tan showed a Whatsapp message from DBKL director (hawker development and license) Ibrahim Yusoff, stating that the policy has been suspended.
However, as the message showed, Ibrahim said the suspension is limited to Jalan Pasar.
Tan disagreed with such a measure, saying that all bazaar areas should have similar policies.
"It's wrong to say Jalan Pasar bazaar is waived from the policy... the Chinese New Year bazaars in Kuala Lumpur are not only in Jalan Pasar but throughout the capital city.
"The same policy should blanket all areas and festivals," he added. -Mkini
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