Miscommunication Led To Brickfields Deepavali Bazaar Tent Issue Zaliha

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The issue of the tents in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, which collapsed from rain and wind, was due to miscommunication between the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) and Bank Rakyat, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said.
According to Zaliha, the tents were changed to bigger and sturdier ones last night.
"Everything is settled already. So it's actually miscommunication between DBKL and Bank Rakyat.
"But it is actually an agreement, so now I think tonight (last night) they will actually change it, and the tent will be a bigger size and stronger in that sense," she told a press conference last night, after an event at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre in Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur.
Yesterday, the wind and rain caused several tents at the Little India Deepavali bazaar in Brickfields to collapse.
According to images and videos sighted by Malaysiakini, the tents were haphazardly strewn about in the middle of a main road in the area.
Collapsed tents at the Little India bazaar in BrickfieldsThe day before, MIC deputy president M Saravanan had cautioned that the shoddy-looking tents could give way at the first sign of challenging weather conditions.
After visiting the site with members of the Brickfields traders’ association, Saravanan appealed to Zaliha and Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Sharif to intervene, inviting them to see the situation on the ground.
Maintaining balloting system
Speaking on the matter of traders expressing dissatisfaction over DBKL's new balloting system, Zaliha said her party will try to maintain the system that was used for Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars.
"However, there may be a few modifications to ensure that those who are interested or intend to trade are given full convenience," she added.
Zaliha had reportedly held a meeting with affected shopowners and traders last week, after which she directed DBKL to review an arrangement which saw the local authority assuming control of the festive bazaar.
Minister in the PM’s Dept (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha MustafaDBKL said centralising the management of all festive bazaars in the city was due to repeated disputes over lot distribution under the previous system, where bazaar lots were managed and allocated by certain traders’ associations.
Shopowners, however, argued that the new balloting system under DBKL denied them the chance to trade directly outside their respective premises.
According to The Star, after the engagement session with Zaliha, it was decided that shopowners along Jalan Tun Sambanthan may trade outside their own shops, while 44 ballot winners would be maintained along the designated stretch.
Zaliha is said to have described the revised arrangement as a “win-win solution”, which would only apply for this year, and instructed DBKL to engage stakeholders before future bazaars. - Mkini

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