By Aida Aziz
IPOH: To avoid a repeat of the issues that occurred at Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park (Padang Polo), all vendors in front of Dataran Bandaraya Ipoh will be called for an engagement session in the near future.
Ipoh Mayor, Datuk Rumaizi Baharin, stated that although the local authority has often been lenient in allowing small vendors to earn a living, action will be taken if complaints arise or if traffic safety becomes a concern.
He explained that previously, only a few vendors operated in the area during the evenings, but the number has increased recently, especially on weekends.
“I have already instructed the Enforcement Division to engage with them. The issue at Padang Polo occurred because we issued licenses there.
“However, we will not issue licenses here. We will call them in and discuss whether to relocate them to another site or explore other options.
“I’ve noticed that the area has become more congested in the past two or three months. We didn’t pay much attention before, but now upon reviewing the situation, we want to meet with them to discuss it,” he said.
However, he added that all actions will be taken thoughtfully, as recommended by the Prime Minister.
“Our approach will be more considerate, but we will not repeat the mistakes made at Padang Polo that led to various issues.
“We will adopt a relocation strategy, similar to what was done in Meru and Sungai Rapat,” he said.
Previously, there have been complaints from the public, claiming that the area has become increasingly congested with vehicles parked to buy from the vendors, blocking traffic and creating a situation similar to “Padang Polo 2.0.”
