IPOH: The operations of Hillrise Coffee 16, located in Canning Garden, should be temporarily suspended following complaints from local residents, said State Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman Sandrea Ng.
She said that, to her knowledge, the Ipoh City Council (MBI) had issued a letter or notice for the cafe to temporarily close.
"There have been some issues and complaints from nearby residents, and the approval from planning permission (KM) is still pending," she said after holding a press conference on Perak Pawsitive Initiative 2.0 — Subsidised Cat Neutering Campaign at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here, today.
Ng said that the area was previously gazetted as a commercial zone because many property owners used it for commercial purposes.
"That is why MBI received the application and designated it for commercial use. For this particular cafe, however, I understand they haven't received KM approval yet. Typically, they need to obtain this approval before they can proceed with any related licences."
Ng added that since there were many complaints about traffic congestion and disturbances from the residential areas nearby the cafe.
"That's why MBI conducted a series of town hall sessions involving all parties, including the assemblyman, the cafe owner, and the residents, to discuss the matter.
"Even though the area is commercial, we need to ensure that any activities there also respect the rights of other property owners and residents. We are trying to balance the community's rights with the potential for development," she said.
When asked about the owner's claim that he was instructed to renovate before obtaining a business licence, Ng said that common practice was to apply for the licence first, and then proceed with renovations.
When asked whether political influence had prevented the cafe from obtaining its licence, Ng said: "This is not a political issue. But I've observed that when political parties begin to get involved, representing different perspectives, it can become politicised.
"I urge all political parties to adhere to the existing rules, planning principles, and the interests of the community. Let's not turn this into a political issue.
"Otherwise, we risk losing focus, which could make the situation even more complicated."
On Saturday, the cafe director, Vincent Perera said it would remain open despite protests from local residents and lacking proper authorisation from the MBI.
Perera said there was no reason to close as the application for a business licence was still under process, despite being rejected twice by the local authorities.