Indian traders faced with recurring problem ahead of Deepavali

Each Deepavali is supposed to bring light and joy to every Indian. Unfortunately, that is always not the case with the Indian traders in Brickfields, or Little India as it is known, as well as around other areas in Kuala Lumpur such as Masjid Jamek.

Every year, they face one problem and this year is no different.

Loga Bala Mohan, as an Indian deputy minister for the Federal Territories, put in charge of Indian affairs should be more sensitive towards the feelings of the Indian community and as such, we would expect for greater understanding of the plight these traders will face when they are out of business, when the allocations were made for the yearly Deepavali bazaars.

When I visited Brickfields last night, I was made to understand the various issues faced by eight traders who were doing their business along the Kottu Malai restaurant, as they have had their premises demolished by DBKL recently. 

How could this happen with Deepavali just around the corner?

We understand the DBKL is within its rights but what we demand is a bit of "timbang rasa" (consideration) from the authorities concerned. We understand the law but why should this be done during Deepavali? That is what we are questioning.

I am wondering why it is that every year the Indians running businesses in Brickfields keep facing such problems, and why can’t the deputy minister stand up for them?

The traders need one month to recover or to convert their goods into cash but due to the poor location initially given (at Pines), they could not do any business in the allocated area.

Finally, barely two weeks before Deepavali, these traders have relocated themselves to Lorong Chan Ah Tong which is along Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

What is Loga Bala doing to help the traders?

Does he know that he made a grave mistake when he relocated the flower traders to Pines?

Indeed, does he know that the flower traders have moved back to their original location, despite knowing it is illegal, because there was no business at their new location in Pines?

In the case of the eight traders, the location where they are doing their business belongs to DBKL and they cannot be evicted or chased away without allocating a proper location for those who have been operating around Kottu Malai restaurant for the last 30 years.

The proper thing to do would be to upgrade the façade of the present location beside the restaurant for these traders to suit the surroundings.

Why would anyone be against it unless there is another hidden agenda behind this whole saga? Only Loga Bala could give an explanation on this matter which is of public interest.

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DATUK A CHANDRAKUMANAN is President of PAR (Pertubuhan Pusat Aduan Rakyat Malaysia). -Mkini