(Oct 19): Night market operators and associations in Kuala Lumpur will have their licences revoked if they fail to abide by City Hall’s new standard operating procedures (SOPs) beginning January 1 next year.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan said that City Hall would soon be discussing the SOPs with the 104 night market operators and associations.

“We will be coming up with the SOPs and they will be ready before December 25. We will be engaging with the traders to get their feedback before implementing them,” he said after a meeting with several night market traders last week.

Loga said if the operators or associations fail to adhere to the guidelines, they will have their licences revoked on the spot.

“If an association manages 30 stalls and one trader does not follow the rules, we will revoke all their licences,” he said.

Loga said that among the issues that will be listed in the SOPs were cleanliness, traffic management, uniform stalls and foreign workers.

“The main issue that we are facing from the traders is cleanliness. In some areas they traders don’t provide garbage bins and they don’t clean up their surroundings and this has attracted rodents.

“We have received many complaints from residents on the lack of cleanliness,” he said, adding that next year City Hall will provide cleaning services and charge the traders a fee.

Loga also said that traffic congestion has also become a perennial problem at night markets.

“The traders are only allowed to do business from 5pm to midnight but some of them come as early as noon and set up their stalls, causing traffic congestion.

“The operators and associations must ensure there are no traffic congestion and hire Volunteer Corps (Rela) members to monitor traffic during operating hours,” he said.

Loga said that City Hall was currently looking into having uniform stalls in all the designated night markets.

“We don’t want to see blue, green and yellow stalls. City Hall will be providing the stalls, tables and uniform for the traders. However, we are still discussing on whether to charge the traders a minimal fee or give it to them for free,” he said.

Loga said that City Hall will, with the Immigration Department, enforce regulations on foreign workers.

“The traders will have to display their licences at all times at their stall. If we find that the stalls are manned by foreigners we will take action against the worker and the trader,” he said. – The Malaysian Insider