PETALING JAYA – Traders at Pasar Besar Jalan Othman say that high monthly rental rates have been a burden for more than three years.
Traders revealed to Scoop that they were impacted by the rate of RM350 set by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) in May 2020, which was an increase of over 300% from the initial cost of around RM95.
It is understood that the increase in rental rates has impacted the traders even more as the number of customers has also decreased recently, compared to several years ago due to the presence of more selling premises in nearby areas.
Muhammad Yusri Mohd Redzuan, a 40-year-old chicken trader, said the lack of income has made it difficult to pay such high rental rates.
“Before this, our profits were just fine, but after the increase in prices, we find it extremely difficult to make comfortable profits.”
“The number of customers has also decreased, causing us to be burdened with additional costs, so how are we supposed to make a profit?” said Yusri.
At the same time, Zamri Shahba, 56, a meat trader, claimed that the local authority’s decision to raise rental rates was unjustified given the low number of customers in the area.
Additionally, he added, the increase in rental rates should not be a priority unless the market receives a lot of traffic and can offer traders higher profits.
Instead, the authorities should find the best approach to attract more customers to the market.
“The decline in customers at this market is due to the limited parking spaces that is an inconvenience to the public,” said a local resident.
“The parking spaces around this market are indeed difficult to find. Even if you want to park for a short time, you would still have to worry about being fined,” he said.
A vegetable trader Chua Beng Teng, 72, who has been trading at the market for 25 years, said the increase in rental rates is believed to be one of the reasons many traders have closed down or continued their business somewhere else.
“When there are fewer traders here, the product choices also decrease, and this may also be a reason why the customers are not interested in coming here because there are not many types of goods,” he said.
Beng Teng also questioned why there were no efforts made to upgrade the infrastructure at the market even though the rental rates went up.
“I paid so much, and for what? The local authority increases the rental rates, so surely, as a trader, I want to see the impact,” he said.
Meanwhile, some customers who were interviewed admitted that the lack of choices and limited parking spaces were among the reasons they seldom visited the market.
Jenny, 65, who resides nearby, said that although she lives close to the premises, she chooses to buy daily necessities and food items at other markets because of the selection of goods.
“I rarely go to that market. I always go to a market a bit further than here. There are more choices of goods, and I don’t have to worry about getting fined for parking,” she said.
Another customer, Mohd Ramli Kassim, 46, said he used to come to the market frequently before, but since the decrease in traders has resulted in a lack of choice, he goes to other markets.
“Before, this market was very lively, to the point of being a centre for community events like lion dances nearing the Chinese New Year, but now the number of traders and buyers has decreased,” he added. – February 10, 2024