Food
DBKL Picks Standardised Look For Jalan Alor
In a bid to resolve issues with illegal extensions and hawker stalls along Jalan Alor, the famous food street will be given a standardised face-lift soon.
According to the Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, the news comes after a productive meeting with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) recently chaired by the deputy director-general Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz,
Fong said the move will see an end to issues surrounding Jalan Alor including traffic congestion in the area.
Uniform move: Fong (left) speaking with some of the hawkers trading along Jalan Alor.Those operating illegally will be given licences to operate.
He said that the DBKL has proposed several designs for the hawkers to choose from.
The hawkers are also allowed to put in their own suggestions and comments for the new look.
The proposal will be submitted within a month and the new look could start taking shape within the year.
“We do not want to portray a bad image of the place because it is a popular tourist destination.
“The cost would be borne by the restaurant owners, who will have to comply with the design terms for the extension of awnings and islands,” he said.
Fong said most of the operators were agreeable to the move by the DBKL.
Restaurant operator Lim Siow Ngan, 31, was happy to hear the proposal from the DBKL.
Lim said that the DBKL had issued more than 50 summonses because of the illegal extensions in front of his restaurant.
He said that even though the restaurants were air-conditioned, people preferred to eat out in the open.
“We are just glad that they have come up with this proposal to legalise the awning.
“We believe that with the new look, more tourists will flock to this place,” he said.
Although the news about standardising the look of Jalan Alor was welcomed, operator Hanim Awang’Yah 37, was still worried about the licence issue.
Hanim said that the DBKL would only issue licences to food operators.
“My fear is that they will not allow people like me, who sell bags and accessories to operate.
“We hope that our worries are taken into consideration by the authorities,” she said.
Source:
The Star
Monday May 18, 2009
By FAZLEENAA AZIZ
