By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
IPOH: “In my opinion..if there is a move, everyone moves,” said Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin.
He made this comment when asked by reporters regarding the issue of the proposed relocation of hawkers at Polo Ground.
“There are a lot of complaints, so we recommend that the hawkers move to the D’Polo area.
“My opinion is that, if there is a move, everyone moves, it’s because when there are still licensed people left.. later new people (unlicensed) will come,” he said.
He said at a press conference when he was met after the Iftar ceremony organized by MBI, M roof Hotel, Pasaraya Econsave, Navira Meditech and Perak Community Specialist Hospital (PCSH) in collaboration with Kelab Sukan & KebajikanMedia Perak at the M Roof Hotel here last night.
Rumaizi said that so far no meeting has been held with the seven licensed Polo Ground hawkers.
“The meeting will be held, we will do like a ‘townhall’. This is because if possible, we want to persuade them to move to the same place.
“Because the existing area has a lot of complaints, especially from Polo Ground users. All kinds of problems, related to parking and garbage as when people eat nearby they will also throw garbage everywhere,” he said.
He said, for now the new site will be developed first before the hawkers move to the new location.
“We will first develop a site close to the D’polo food court.
“It’s ready, we will move it… I think the earliest is probably the end of this year,” he said.
Previously the media reported that The Ipoh City Council (MBI) will hold a meeting again with seven licensed hawkers at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park (Polo Ground), who have said they disagree with the proposed relocation of the traders to a new location.
The mayor of Ipoh, Datuk Rumaizi Baharin, said he would recall all seven hawkers shortly, for negotiations to resolve the issue.
The media previously also reported that Seven of the licensed hawkers at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park (Polo Ground) here are standing their ground and disagree with the proposed relocation of all traders to a new location.
This is because the proposed new location, in a nearby area is considered unsuitable and impractical for both hawkers and buyers.
