“MBPJ assessed the market before deciding what time and which gates should be opened, ” said an MBPJ spokesperson.
He disclosed that MBPJ received an application from the Pasar Besar Jalan Othman Traders Association, through the area’s local councillor, requesting permission to open a middle gate at the back of the market as additional access for customers. “The revised market rental rate started in August 2020. MBPJ decided that the market’s maintenance cost would be borne by tenants and that it would be included in the rental rate to be paid by tenants, ” said the spokesperson.
On charges for freezer units, MBPJ said it was a fee imposed on traders who placed the freezers in common areas and had been enforced at other public markets owned by other local councils.As for the ban on slaughtering chicken at the market, “it is in line with a letter from Housing and Local Government Ministry, dated April 2006 and citing the Local Government Act, that all poultry slaughtering activities are not allowed at markets under local councils, ” said the spokesperson.
On whether there could be some flexibility on the hiring of foreign workers, the spokesperson said it was not possible as per a circular issued by the Selangor Secretary’s office that foreigners could not be hired as workers or assistants under traders’ licences.