KUALA LUMPUR – Licensed hawkers who have been operating in Desa Pandan for more than a decade remain unconvinced about the proposed road-widening project, despite assurances that their stalls will not be demolished.
Their response came after Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani announced that nine hawker stalls previously slated for demolition would instead be reorganised and upgraded under Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Programme Lestari Niaga.
Johari, alongside Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, said the decision was intended to strike a balance between urban development and the livelihoods of local traders.
However, for hawkers like Ridhwan Ghazali, 35, the concern lies in the potential disruption to their income.
“We are worried about how long the roadworks will take and how much access to our stalls will be affected. Our customers come here for convenience – if the roads are closed or congested, business will definitely drop.
“Even temporary relocation means losing regulars who may not return. For many of us, this stall is our only source of income, and we can’t afford a long interruption,” he said when met.
Fellow trader Jamal Abdul Hassan echoed Ridhwan’s concerns, pointing out that traders had already endured years of uncertainty over the project.
“We’ve been hearing about this widening plan for a long time, but we still don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. Every rumour creates anxiety among us and our customers.
“While we welcome upgrades and proper licences, there needs to be clear communication and a timeline we can plan around. We are willing to cooperate, but we need assurance that our livelihoods won’t be sacrificed for this project,” he said.
Onn Sapari Abdullah, 64, who has run a small shop in the area for 28 years, described the ongoing issues with the narrow road and steep bridge that often lead to congestion and accidents.
“I have seen countless vehicles get stuck – buses, lorries, even cars – and whenever that happens, traffic jams can last for hours. This has been going on for years, and even if they widen the road, I’m not sure it will solve the problem completely.
“I pity the traders because any construction work here will definitely affect them. Many of us have been here all our lives, and it’s not easy to simply start over somewhere else,” he said.
Onn noted that heavy vehicles frequently use the bridge, which was originally designed for pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles, causing damage and further safety hazards.
He also questioned whether alternative routes would be able to handle the diverted traffic if the road were temporarily closed.
Meanwhile, Lelatun Rohimah, 26, who has been selling fried snacks near the bridge for seven years, expressed mixed feelings about the upgrade.
“This bridge is beautiful, but it’s not really built for big lorries. I’ve seen accidents here, including a man who was hit by a truck.
“If they ask me to move, I’ll have to comply, but I do feel sorry for the other shopkeepers who have been here much longer. I just hope they don’t close the road entirely – perhaps they could put barriers so traffic can still flow without blocking everything,” she said.
Johari, who also serves as the plantation and commodities minister, stressed that while the hawkers’ stalls would be upgraded and properly licensed, the road-widening project would proceed to improve safety and accessibility for nearby residents and motorists.
The planned closure of the nearby bridge is still under discussion, with Johari noting that it may remain open for motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians, subject to further review by DBKL, the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) and technical teams.
Zaliha said the hawkers would benefit from improved, hygienic and visually appealing stalls under Programme Lestari Niaga, with affordable rentals designed to support small traders. Maimunah added that a follow-up meeting would be held soon to finalise the agreed measures. – July 24, 2025