KUALA LUMPUR: A group Jalan Masjid India traders have defended a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth leader, linked to a Ramadan bazaar fiasco at the area, saying they did not pay a single sen to him to secure the lots.
Instead, Mohd Azman Abdul Rahman, who represented the group, said Bukit Bintang PPBM Youth chief Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim and Bukit Bintang member of parliament Fong Kui Lun, had assisted them in obtaining the licences.
"Traders, for the first time, can operate their businesses legally here,"
"The lots were given to us for free this year after we sought their assistance,” he told reporters at Jalan Masjid India today.
He was responding to reports that Noorhisyam had allegedly misused his political connections to secure 80 bazaar lots in Jalan Masjid India from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and renting them out for as high as RM5,000 per lot through middlemen.
Fong was caught in the fiasco for issuing a support letter to Noorhisyam to secure the lots.
Several reports have been lodged with the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.
Azman, who admitted that rent-seeking activity was common in Jalan Masjid India, said it did not involve the 80 bazaar lots.
“There was a confusion over Noorhisyam's name. We called him 'Sam'.
"There was another individual who also goes by the name 'Sam'. He was the one involved in such activity," he claimed.
Meanwhile, Selayang Market Malay Traders Association secretary Saiful Kamal said his association had sponsored the overall cost for the lots.
“There was no issue of rental because the traders ran their businesses for free. The association also sponsored about RM6,200.
“Maybe there was misunderstanding among the traders.” he said.
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