KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be reviewing the free licence under the Free Trade Area scheme which is seen as one of the factors causing traffic congestion in the federal capital.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said DBKL would among others restructure the position of traders as well as business activities at locations which are blocking traffic, especially by the roadside.
“The meeting would be chaired by Deputy Federal Territories Minister to resolve the problems of traffic congestion apart from implementing the campaign to take public transport,” he told reporters after inspecting flash flood hotspots with several Kuala Lumpur members of Parliament here today.
Among the MPs who went to the ground with Shahidan were Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Lembah Pantai MP Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil, Wangsa Maju MP Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew, Batu MP P. Prabakaran and Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng.
Shahidan said efforts to overcome traffic congestion would be carried out in coordination with other ministries and parties.
Earlier in the visit to four of 24 flood hotspots at Jalan Ampang, Jalan Rahmat, Jalan Kasipilay and Jalan Dutamas 2, the minister said the interim initiatives to be carried out to overcome flash floods include placing sandbags and using water pumps.
The Free Trade Area scheme which was introduced on November 15, 2020, was to enable members of the public in the three Federal Territories to set up stalls or open small businesses in suitable areas for free and so far, it has been extended to the end of this month.
In another development, Shahidan again stressed and denied allegations that DBKL appointed a company to replace 200 lamp posts in the Klang Valley at a very high cost.
“DBKL only receives rental for the pole placement, the project is built and financed by a telecommunication company … the appointment of sub-contractors and so on is their business,” he said.
— Bernama
