A number of small traders’ associations doubt the ability of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to manage all 65 Ramadan bazaars in the capital next year without their help.

This was in response to a recent announcement by the City Hall that it would run evening food bazaars without the help of associations.

READ ALSO: Special Task Force to Oversee the Management of Ramadan Bazaars in KL

In recent years, the management of bazaars, including collection of rent and allocation of commercial lots, was handled by associations under the supervision of DBKL.

The associations held a press conference in Jalan Kuching to object to the move and called for an engagement session.

Gulam Muszaffar says there is a misconception that associations take excessive profits from traders.

Kuala Lumpur Night Market Management Association (PMKL) president Datuk Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim said there was a misconception that associations were taking excessive profits from traders.

“In the past, we usually charge between RM600 and RM900 per trading lot for Ramadan bazaars.

“However, we have recently received reports from some traders who claim they have to pay up to RM1,000 to DBKL,” he said.

Gulam Muszaffar said the associations charge only a small fee for handling the traders’ requests and ensuring order and safety at the site.

Rosli asks if DBKL is equipped to handle the volume of applications for trade in Ramadan bazaars.

Federation of Malaysian Traders and Traders Associations president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman asked if DBKL was equipped to handle the volume of trading requests in the Ramadan bazaars.

He estimated that about 4,500 traders would operate in 65 bazaar locations in Kuala Lumpur during Ramadan next year, which was expected to start on March 2.

He noted that some elderly traders struggled with DBKL’s online application system.

“There are also concerns about the payment method.

“While associations can accept installment payments, DBKL usually requires a lump sum,” Rosli said.

This issue arose after DBKL announced on Oct 21 that it will start running Ramadan bazaars without going through middlemen.

This follows a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa in response to a controversy at the Deepavali Bazaar in Brickfields after a viral video showed several traders angry at not being allowed to operate at a site.

Dr Zaliha said checks showed that the association in charge of managing the Deepavali bazaar offered more lots than the number allowed by DBKL, which was 20.

“This is not the first time such incidents have taken place as similar situations have also occurred during Ramadan in recent years.

“We asked DBKL to take over the management of the bazaars,” she had said.

To address the Deepavali bazaar issue, DBKL said additional tents have been allocated to accommodate the remaining traders who were initially left outside.