By LIM CHIA YING
A VISIT to Petaling Street, or Chinatown, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday showed that the May 31 deadline for the removal of foreign workers from the stalls had work, with almost 90% of the stalls now manned by locals.
Over the years, Chinatown’s heritage and identity seemed to have eroded with many describing the place as a foreign workers’ paradise since they could be spotted in every corner.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had decided that it was time to start on an enforcement and raid blitz by first issuing out notices to the more than 700 licensed traders with a June 1 ultimatum to get rid off their foreign workers or risk having their licenses revoked.
Yesterday, more than 100 officers, comprising DBKL employees from three different departments and representatives from agencies like the Federal Territories Immigration Department, the National Registra-tion Department, the police, and Rela were split into four groups for a raid into the street and its surroundings via four different routes – Jalan Sultan, Jalan Cheng Lock, Jalan Hang Lekir and Jalan Tun H.S.Lee.
Making the rounds: Officers from several different agencies participated in the raid on Petaling Street.
According to DBKL Petty Traders Development and Management Department director Ramly Othman, it is provided for under the DBKL bylaws that only licensed traders are allowed to operate and they cannot sublet or mortgage their lots to other people.
“Also, without written permission from the mayor, the traders cannot simply hire helpers, be they local or foreign.
“The DBKL has received a lot of complaints from the public about these foreign workers who operate without licences. There are also cases where these foreigners have abused their social visit passes or overstayed.
“Those with fake or invalid travel documents will be checked by the Immigration department or Rela.
“Our enforcement officers also checked for those who are obstructing traffic under the Road, Drainage, and Building Act 1974 while my department’s officers will take action against unlicensed traders or licensed traders found to be flouting their license conditions,” Ramly said before the raid.
However, the team was informed that some traders had been tipped off about the raid and decided not to open for business for a few days or replace their foreign workers with locals temporarily.
Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association vice-chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee, however, believed that 90% of the traders had abided by the regulations set by the DBKL.
“Many traders complained they found it difficult to hire locals but I told them there was no choice.
“I also told them that they needed to follow the orders or they would pay a bigger price when their licenses were revoked. Unfortunately, I noticed that some have not been open these past few days,” Ang said.
Ang added that with enforcement being stepped up not just in Petaling Street but markets like Pudu and Chow Kit or the Pasar Borong Kuala Lumpur, there were about 10,000 redundant foreign workers in Kuala Lumpur.
“If they are still in the city, their jobless status can pose a security threat to the public. I hope the authorities can look into this matter,” he added.
He also hoped the DBKL and other agencies will handle the nabbing of illegal foreign workers wisely so as not to mistake them for foreign tourists visiting the country.
A handicraft trader who wished to be known as Lee felt the raid was a good move by the authorities.
“Some foreigners here have become a disgrace as they speak rudely to the customers. I only employ locals so I’ve no problems.
“Even in the old days, Petaling Street was never like this and if our forefathers could manage on their own, why can’t we?” he said.
Another trader known only as Alex was seen being issued a compound notice by DBKL officers for failing to display his business licence.
“I have a licence but I forget to display it today after taking it out the night before,” he said.
Alex also said he had sent his foreign workers home and had to ask a friend to help him out, admitting that it was not easy to get locals to work there.
Ang also added that he didn’t think the absence of the foreign workers was a cover up. Instead, he said the stall owners had understood the need to abide by the rules.
“I’ve actually reported to the DBKL several times about foreign workers without permits illegally manning the stalls but action was never really taken because bribes had already changed hands,” he claimed.
Some operators, who were being issued compound notices because their names were not on the licences were overheard complaining to the DBKL.
One said the licence holder, a relative, had just happened to leave the stall when the officers arrived, while another argued that the licence holder was sick and on leave.
After the raid, Ramly said the 26 compound notices had been issued, with seven for not possessing licences, eight for traders who employed local workers without written approval from the mayor, and 11 for offences where the owners were not at the stall.
“We have also sealed eight lots for offences under the Road, Building and Drainage Act. From January to yesterday, a total of 1,098 stalls here and at Chow Kit, Pudu and the Pasar Borong Kuala Lummpur have been sealed,” he said.
Ramly said only helpers whose photographs were registered and displayed at each stall are allowed to man the place, and only two helpers could be registered.
“We have also identified 23 lots operating in the daytime and 13 lots operating at night who are still using the services of foreign workers. Under our bylaws, no foreign workers can be involved in petty trading,” he said.
Meanwhile, 43 foreigners not related to the trading operations were hauled up for for further questioning by the Immigration Department.
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