Desa Pandan traders oppose demolition notice

New Straits Times

17-07-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Residents and traders of Pangsapuri Anggerik E2, Desa Pandan, are protesting a demolition notice issued by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), claiming lack of consultation, sudden enforcement, and concerns over safety and livelihood.
Chairman of the residents association, Shaaripuddin Yub Kamaruddin, 76, claimed DBKL issued notices instructing traders to vacate the area despite their valid trading licences.
"We oppose this because we have trading licences. This is our livelihood, and we've been here for over 10 years.
"They never called us for discussions, but suddenly, they served two notices from different departments, with two conflicting demolition dates, dated July 15 and 17."
Shaaripuddin added that the confusion had caused distress among traders, all of whom are local residents.
Residents association committee Mohd Reduan Mohd Rathi, 40, said traders had proper lot numbers and had been issued licences more than five years ago.
"Some have been trading here for 20 years, but in December last year, our licences were cancelled without notice," he said.
Reduan claimed the cancellation was abrupt, with no briefing or explanation, only a generic notice.
"Official meetings were even arranged via WhatsApp, and we once received messages at 1.30am for meetings at 9am, which is absurd."
Reduan added that the residents were concerned about safety in the area due to the plan, which allegedly involves expanding the inner road from two to four lanes.
"Vehicles, including large trucks, will pass through the religious school here. In the morning, children walk here to the school nearby.
"Recently, a woman died on the day we received the demolition notice, she was walking down the hill when she was struck by a vehicle."
Reduan also claimed that repeated requests for safety barriers to prevent heavy vehicles from using the road had gone unanswered, despite the barriers having been absent for five to ten years.
He said the demolition of the stalls would affect the residents' source of income, as many of them have children, including those with special needs.
"The first meeting was just a proposal briefing. No follow-up, then suddenly, the licence was revoked and a demolition order was issued.
"Our YB (Titiwangsa member of parliament Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani) has promised to take this matter up with the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. But we are still waiting for a response," he said.
Residents claimed that to date, no relocation plan or compensation offer has been made by DBKL.
This morning, Johari had a meeting with the residents to discuss the matter.
Yesterday, DBKL said that the clearance of stalls in Desa Pandan was carried out transparently and in an orderly manner in accordance with existing procedures.
It said the project had gone through several processes, including engagement sessions and the delivery of official information to all parties involved, such as the traders' association and individual traders.
DBKL also said that as a follow-up, business licences for nine sites were revoked on Jan 10 and that all traders were officially informed on Jan 15 and instructed to vacate the sites within the given timeframe.
On July 4, it issued a site clearance notice as a final step before enforcement with demolition work was supposed to take place on Tuesday but was postponed due to commotion at the site.