Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Traders worried over falling roof


TRADERS in Petaling Street are concerned over the polycarbon sheets that make up the roof becoming loose and falling.


There are 773 traders along the street, including those who operate only at night.


So far there have been six incidents of the sheets falling from the roof structure, according to Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun.


“The material used to build the phase 2 roof structure is of inferior quality compared with that used in phase 1.


Missing pieces: Some of the polycarbon sheets used in the phase 2 roof structure have become loose within the past year, leaving gaps in the structure.


“The colour of the polycarbon sheets used for the phase 2 structure differs from one sheet to another, unlike those in phase 1, where the roof is a uniform colour,” Fong told reporters in Petaling Street yesterday.


The phase 1 roof covers the part of the street between its junction with Jalan Hang Lekir and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, while phase 2 covers the other half of the street all the way to Jalan Sultan.


Fong added that last year, an woman shopper sustained minor injuries to her arm due to a falling polycarbon sheet.


“The sheet had first fallen on to the roof of a trader’s stall, which took most of the impact, before it bounced off and hit the woman,” Fong said.


On Wednesday, another sheet had became loose and flapped in the strong winds.


“After receiving the traders’ calls, I contacted the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and they came early this morning to remove the sheet,” Fong said.


He added that there were a few other loose sheets and hoped the DBKL could remove them.
In July, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin announced during his walkabout in the area that the roof would be replaced soon and that the roof of the traders’ stalls would be extended.


“I hope the contractor will use good quality material, like that used in phase 1,” Fong said.
According to him, the entire roofing project took two years and was completed in 2003 at a cost of RM15mil.


“When I meet the Kuala Lumpur mayor next week, I will ask him to speed up the roof replacement project because this concerns the safety of people,” Fong said.


On another issue, Fong said about 300 stalls that lined Petaling Street and Jalan Hang Lekir had extensions of about 0.6m added to their existing roof last month.


“The extensions were added in stages and completed within a month.


“The stalls now have roofs that reach the road shoulder and I hope they will no longer put up plastic sheets to extend their roof even further to display their wares,” Fong said.


He added that putting up illegal extensions, including plastic sheets, would endanger passers-by and the traders themselves as passing vehicles could easily knock them down.


“Not only is it dangerous, but the standard green roofing used for the extensions is supposed to beautify the street, and putting up plastic sheets will defeat its purpose,” Fong said.


Also present at the press conference was Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association vice-chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee.


“I hope the roof will be replaced as soon as possible because it is the mega sale period and there are a lot of tourists visiting the street,” Ang said.


The Star, Metro

刮風雨月內兩次肇禍‧茨廠街棚蓋又墜落



(吉隆坡)茨廠街棚蓋玻璃纖維再次墜落!



吉隆坡小販公會副主席拿督洪細弟表示,由於近來刮風下雨,茨廠街尾端的棚蓋處,在一個月內兩次墜落3片玻璃纖維,有的則搖搖欲墜。



他披露,在今年4月及6月,首相與吉隆坡市長曾先後巡視當地,首相答應撥款重新美化棚蓋,而市長表明將於開齋節前竣工,惟工程至今還未進行。



他強調,目前為大馬嘉年華期間,許多遊客前來茨廠街,若墜落頂片傷及遊客,將影響大馬形象及茨廠街名譽。



“公會促請吉隆坡市長關注這個問題,儘快進行棚蓋美化工程,而商家、小販與路人也必須提高警惕。”



他是週四(8月27日)早上在行動黨武吉免登國會議員方貴倫陪同下,召開新聞發佈會時,如此表示。



此外,洪細弟表示,早前市政局將小販攤位涼棚延伸至2呎,惟許多小販在涼棚另添帆布,令檔口看似“難民營”,他指出,公會希望打造茨廠街為旅遊景點,因而希望小販配合,若非雨天則無需張搭帆布,以免影響環境美觀。



已發生5次方貴倫將會市長



方貴倫表示,在茨廠街棚蓋第二期工程中,其玻璃纖維品質遜於第一期工程,因而經常發生墜落事件,有的墜落處依然被空置。



他強調,茨廠街是旅遊景點,惟至今已發生5次墜落事件,將危害小販、路人及遊客安全,市政局必須確保公眾安全。


“我將會見吉隆坡市長,促請當局儘快美化棚蓋,並更換第二期工程棚蓋的玻璃纖維。”


星洲日報/大都會‧2009.08.27