The Malaysian Insight

THE 80 Ramadan bazaar plots secured by a Bersatu Youth leader were fully sponsored and meant to be allocated to traders, said DAP’s Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.

Fong had issued a support letter for Bukit Bintang Bersatu Youth chief Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim’s effort to secure 80 Ramadan bazaar lots from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). The letter was issued after DBKL director of Licensing and Petty Traders Development Anwar Mohd Zain had refused Noorhisyam’s request.

Anwar said he caved in to the request, claiming that persistent pestering by Noorhisyam, and Fong’s letter forced his hand. It later is alleged that  Noorhisyam had collected up to RM5,000 from traders wishing to set up shop in the bazaar in the Jalan Masjid India, the heart of bustling pre-Hari Raya trade in Kuala Lumpur.

But Fong yesterday claimed no money changed hands between the traders and Noorhisyam as the lots are supposed to be free for the traders.

“(The lots) are free for them to business there, there was no money exchanged.

“Even the DBKL (trading license), someone sponsored it,” said Fong after lodging a police report at Dang Wangi.

Fong said that he had contacted Noorhisyam to seek explanation on the issue and said that it “doesn’t make sense” to collect RM 5000 for the lots.

“Noorhisyam said he doesn’t know (anything) about this.

“And there are seven days left in the bazaar. If it is RM5,000 for seven days, one day the rent is how much?”

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who accompanied Fong, urged Anwar to explain how was he “forced” to allocate the bazaar lots.

“How was he forced? Did Fong use any threatening words in the letter of support?

“Or has anyone in anyway used any threatening gesture towards him to issue additional lots?

“I want him to explain how he was forced,” said Lim.

He added that he wants Anwar to apologise for “painting Fong in a bad light”.

“If I have to use his words (of being forced) Anuar from DBKL basically forced Fong to issue the letter of support.

“So in a way Anwar from DBKL is forcing MP Fong to issue the letter of support.” – June 20, 2018.