ABOUT 100 traders and residents staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the TTDI market on New Year’s Eve against the demolition of the 25-year-old complex which has been slated for a mixed development.

The demonstration was held to show their disappointment at Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for failing to consult the traders on the proposed development and to push for the market to be upgraded instead.

Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) Market Traders Association chairman Jenny Loo said she was dissapointed and confused at the way the DBKL was handling the situation and for sidelining the traders.

“Please come and discuss with us the plans you have for this place. Why is DBKL avoiding us?’’ Loo asked.

Loo said the traders were worried that history might repeat itself as it did more than a year ago when City Hall hired a contrator to manage the parking system in the market area.

Unhappy: TTDI market traders are against the proposal to develop and relocate the 25-yearold market.

“The association has been managing the parking system for more than two decades. So imagine our shock when we found out that a company will be taking over the parking bays.

“We went to see KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail when we found out about it.

“He told us that it was too late as the contract had already been signed.

“The fact that that they have failed to consult us over the parking matter makes us all the more cautious about this new development,’’ she added.

TTDI Residents Association chairman Mohd Hatim Abdullah said his association, too, had not received any news on the proposed development.

“We heard this news from third parties and read it in the newspaper and we were shocked,’’ he said.

Segambut Barisan Nasional chairman Jayanthi Devi Balaguru, who was also present at the protest, said she was surprised to hear that the residents and traders were not informed about the project.

“Consultation is important. It is one of the fundamental tenets of local governance. The stakeholders must be informed of any development taking place in their neighbourhood as per Section 12A of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act (TCPA) 2001,’’ she said.

The TTDI Market Traders Association has started a signature drive against the proposed demolition and relocation of the market.

About 5,000 people have supported the signature drive.

It was reported that Ahmad Fuad had confirmed that a developer had submitted a proposal for the development of the market land but that the mayor has yet to approve the project.

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