KUALA LUMPUR: After last year's hiatus, Ramadan bazaars are likely to make a comeback this year.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said Putrajaya, which is under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), had received the green light from the authorities to allow the opening of bazaars.
And the Federal Territories State Security Committee, which Annuar chairs, had endorsed the ministry's application to allow the bazaar back on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
He said the committee had submitted recommendations and proposals for standard operating procedures (SOP) at bazaars to the National Security Council's (NSC) central committee last week. Annuar said the NSC was expected to make a final decision next week.
"We endorsed this at the state level because we feel we have the ability to monitor their operations and SOP compliance. We have locations where these strict conditions can be fulfilled.
"We will not allow bazaars to resume in places where SOP cannot be followed," he said during a walkabout at Anjung Floria here yesterday.
Annuar later went on a walkabout in the city centre here to survey locations where bazaars could be allowed under the new norm.
He said he would make an assessment on whether the bazaar in Jalan Raja here could return to Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
The bazaar was moved to Jalan Raja in 2019 despite a backlash from traders who did not agree to the closure of the Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman site.
"If everything is okay, we can return them to Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman. My main concern is for the people to earn money as they have been denied this for a long time.
"They need to make up for their losses. So if there's space for them to do business, we will help them, and at the same time, ensure that the SOP is followed."
He said the ministry was undertaking the assessment following appeals from traders who complained that business in Jalan Raja was poor.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said traders had been optimistic following a meeting with Kuala Lumpur City Hall on Wednesday.
"Amendments were made to bazaar structures and the quota of traders in 2020 to comply with the SOP.
"The approvals were issued by City Hall in 2020 before the NSC revoked the decision.
"In a meeting between us (traders' associations) and City Hall, there were indications that a similar SOP would be enforced. Those who made City Hall's final cut in 2020 are expected to be automatically allowed to trade," he said.
Rosli was referring to approvals given to some 2,200 food traders in 47 registered bazaars in the city to provide Iftar fare.
Last year, City Hall decided to give these traders the go-ahead to exclusively run food bazaars. Payments and deposits had also been collected for these lots.
Some traders were reimbursed when the NSC revoked the permission to open bazaars. However, others opted to have their payment carried forward to this year.
Rosli, however, said City Hall might not allow non-food traders to sell their products.
"But we hope these traders will also get the go-ahead because it's been a long and painful year. And they've made sacrifices for the greater good."
He said most traders were from the B40 group and took loans to do business.
"Some who were trading clothes and non-perishables still have stock from last year."
Taman Tun Dr Ismail Pasar Malam Association chairman Abdul Hadi Mustafa said the association, which manages the bazaar in the neighbourhood, had decided that there would be no bazaar on Sundays to accommodate the night market.
"There are fewer or only 180 bazaar lots compared with the pasar malam here.
"The pasar malam had to be cut back from 370 traders to 130 traders to comply with the SOP under CMCO, so that it is more manageable in terms of physical distancing."
Clothes trader Azkhalim Suradi hoped the non-food traders would be given a chance to do business, instead of being put on the "reserve" list.
He said breaking the news to traders of non-perishables that they would not be allowed to set up stall would not be easy, especially for associations in charge.
"It's been a hard year. All traders want to do is to ride out this pandemic. They will give their cooperation and self-regulate."
He, however, said that there should be enforcement and checks on illegal traders and customers to ensure compliance.
The New Sunday Times' checks with Selangor councils, such as the Petaling Jaya and the Shah Alam city councils, found that online applications were open for those who wanted to trade.
However, both councils said the decisions to allow bazaars would be based on the NSC green light and following that state government's nod.