KUALA LUMPUR: Traders lost about 50 to 70 per cent of their sales following the sinkhole incident along Jalan Masjid India last Friday, with some willing to stop operations temporarily to avoid bigger losses.
Last Friday, an Indian woman known as G. Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, went missing after falling into an eight-metre deep hole following the sinkhole incident on KUALA LUMPUR: Traders have experienced a 50, to 70 per cent drop in sales following the sinkhole incident in Jalan Masjid India last Friday, with some considering temporary closures to avoid further losses.
Md Daud Mohd Jonid, 61, a food stall owner, told Bernama that his business had deteriorated significantly, with sales dropping by up to 50 per cent after the tragic incident involving the Indian tourist.
Last Friday, a 48-year-old Indian woman, G. Vijaya Lakshmi, fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India.
"On the evening of the incident, there was a water supply disruption that lasted until Saturday, forcing me to close my business. The situation worsened when it was reported that another sinkhole had appeared nearby," he said.
"On Wednesday, my sales dropped by almost 50 per cent. On Thursday, it was even worse. On normal days, I make over RM3,000 a day, but on Wednesday, I only made RM2,000.
"I've discussed with my workers about the possibility of temporarily closing the shop. If I give them unpaid leave, at least they can find other jobs to survive," he added.
Md Daud, who has been in business in the area for nearly 28 years, said one of the challenges he faces is paying daily wages to his workers, even when the business is not making money.
"My employees' wages total RM700 per day (for all six workers). Even if I don't open for business, I still need to pay them. If I have to use my own money for a day or two, that's manageable," he said.
He added that even switching to food delivery is challenging due to the strict controls and limited access into the area. Delivery riders have to take long detours to reach his shop.
"I have only ever done business here and have no plans to relocate. I hope the government can assist traders like us in recovering. I believe this is a temporary issue, and once resolved, things should return to normal," he said.
Nadiah Galib, a small trader who sells jerseys, said her daily sales, which used to hit RM200, have now plummeted to just RM20, since the sinkhole incident.
"My business is deteriorating, and if the number of visitors continues to drop, I may have to switch to online platforms like Shopee and Lazada.
"We are deeply saddened by the incident, and we hope the government will take swift action to find her," she said.
Similarly, Nurul Tasnim, a perfume dealer, reported that her sales have declined by 60 to 70 per cent since the incident. She is considering switching to online sales if the situation worsens.
"I am continuing the business as usual for now, but if things get worse, I'm considering moving it online," she said.
Based on observations, the area around Masjid India appears gloomy, with very low foot traffic. Many businesses are not operating, and the authorities have enforced strict access control into the area.
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, said there was no need to declare the Jalan Masjid India area, where the sinkhole incident occurred, as unsafe, or a disaster zone.
He explained that to declare an area unsafe, police needed to obtain special permission from the National Security Council.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa, assured the public that Kuala Lumpur was still safe.
Commenting on concerns following the sinkhole incident, she reminded the public to be cautious when in the affected area.
The Masjid India Business Association (MIBA) and Batu Road Retailers Association (Barra) have called for a meeting with the Ministry of Federal Territories, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and relevant departments.
Barra's head of communications, Datin Rohana Mohammad Nasir, said the meeting was to get security assurances and gather information on further enforcement actions.
"This meeting is important to reassure residents and traders that the area is safe and under control, ensuring that the public continues to visit and shop here," she said.
"We want to discuss the actions that will be taken. We understand the search for the victim is ongoing, but why hasn't anyone met with building, and business owners?
"We are here 24 hours a day; we've lived here for decades. We know the road conditions, traffic flow, and customer movements," she said.
"It was particularly disheartening when the minister visited with the media, but we were prevented from meeting any officials. Why?
"Furthermore, the pavements are starting to become uneven. If this continues, more incidents could happen," she added.
MIBA secretary Mohamad Shaifudeen said the issue of uneven roads was serious and cannot be resolved quickly. Patching work will take time.
"If decisions are rushed, they might not be effective. We are concerned because many road users here are children and people in wheelchairs.
"We are worried about the future. Rushing now is pointless if it leads to problems later," he said.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif assured that Jalan Masjid India was safe and under control, as confirmed by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.
Shaifudeen noted that safety concerns have only recently become an issue.
"I think we also overlooked the problem. We thought the road was fine until last Friday's incident. We were all shocked and are very worried.
"We have informed the authorities; please complete the mapping. At least, confirm which roads are safe, as certified by a geologist. If some roads are safe, leave them open so people don't have to take 100- or 200m detours, allowing shops to operate as usual."
The search and rescue operation is ongoing and has entered its eighth day.