KUALA LUMPUR: As many as 2,621 petty traders and hawkers have seen their businesses thrive under a government initiative aimed at boosting their earnings.
Drawing from a RM41.5 million allocation announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year, Lestari Niaga@Kuala Lumpur has spawned 83 projects involving the beautification and upgrading of facilities at 76 food stalls and markets in and around the city centre.
The initiative, a joint effort of the federal territories department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), has allowed these businesses to attract more customers by ramping up comfort levels at the facilities they operate in, and their surroundings
The Tanglin Food Court at Jalan Cenderasari near the Perdana Botanical Garden is one such example. The premises, which used to seat 78 patrons, can now comfortably accommodate 289 customers.
To boost customer convenience, the authorities have increased the number of available parking bays from 106 to 136, with several spaces specially designated for persons with disabilities.
The upgrading works, which began early last year, has seen the complex repainted, its roof expanded, and new floors installed. It has also seen landscaping, repair and maintenance work carried out on a regular basis.
Rosnah Husin, who has run a grilled fish business with her husband for the past 20 years, is delighted with the facility’s new look.
“In the past, it was just a canvas canopy. When it rained water would leak through, and strong winds would cause the canopy poles to break.
“We are grateful that the place is now clean, attractive and comfortable for patrons, with additional parking lots, a surau and working toilets,” she told Astro Awani.
This initiative also saw 165 illegal stalls around Bazaria Wangsa Maju being licensed and relocated to a hawker centre run by DBKL. The move has also addressed traffic disruption caused by the presence of the stalls, and curbed electricity and water theft.
The D’Anjung Selera Madani in Bandar Tun Razak has also been refurbished under the project, with patrons of its 24 food stalls and three kiosks able to enjoy cleaner and more modern facilities, as well as increased parking capacity, with 48 spaces now available.
Despite this, stall rental has been halved to RM200, reducing the operating costs incurred by traders.
Other facilities to benefit from the Lestari Niaga@Kuala Lumpur initiative include the Madani Food Court at the Tun Sambanthan Complex and Kedai Bunga Little India in Brickfields.
