In the latest twist to the Ramadan bazaar fiasco, PPBM Youth chief Mohd Noorhisyam appears to be in the clear as another party is said to be involved in rent-seeking activity in the area, although not for the 80 bazaar lots.
A group of Jalan Masjid India traders have defended a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth leader, linked to a Ramadan bazaar fiasco at the area, saying they did not pay a single sen to him to secure the lots.
Instead, Mohd Azman Abdul Rahman, who represented the group, said Bukit Bintang PPBM Youth chief Mohd Noorhisyam Abd Karim and Bukit Bintang member of parliament Fong Kui Lun, had helped them get the lots to operate the business in the last few days of the fasting month.
“We did not pay Sam (Noorhisyam) a single sen. The accusations, reported in the media, are false.
“In fact, this is the first time we can operate legally with a city council licence, thanks to Sam and YB (Fong Kui Lun),” he said.
He added that the lots were given to the traders for free this year after they sought the assistance of Mohd Noorhisyam and Fong.
He was responding to reports that Mohd Noorhisyam had allegedly misused his political connections to secure 80 bazaar lots in Jalan Masjid India for RM6,238.40 from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and renting them out for as high as RM5,000 per lot through middlemen.
Fong was caught in the controversy for issuing a support letter to Mohd Noorhisyam to secure the lots.
Azman said the accusations against Mohd Noorhisyam and Fong were done in bad faith and said it might have been done by another traders’ group.
“I do not know why people wanted to spread rumours against the two men and tarnish their reputation,” he added.
Several reports have been lodged with the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.
Azman, who admitted that rent-seeking activity was common in Jalan Masjid India, said it did not involve the 80 bazaar lots.
“There was a confusion over Noorhisyam’s name. We called him ‘Sam’.
“There was another individual who also goes by the name ‘Sam’. He was the one involved in such activity,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Selayang Market Malay Traders Association secretary Saiful Kamal said his association had sponsored the overall cost for the lots.
“There was no issue of rental because the traders ran their businesses for free. The association also sponsored about RM6,200.
“Maybe there was misunderstanding among the traders,” he said.
Fong lodged a police report yesterday, demanding that police investigate claims of “middlemen” taking money from traders.
He also clarified that the support letter he issued for PPBM was for empty lots at the Ramadan bazaar in Jalan Masjid India and not for additional lots.
He said his letter was meant to urge DBKL to release any empty lots to poor and needy traders.
“Mohd Noorhisyam came to my service centre on May 31 saying he was representing 80 poor Malay traders who requested help to set up stalls at the bazaar,” said Fong
He added that he sent the letter to DBKL saying that he did not have any objections to the request and asked DBKL to consider it.
He again stressed that no money was exchanged between him and Mohd Noorhisyam.
DBKL gave approval for the lots to operate from June 6 to 14, from 11am to 11pm.
Earlier reports:
June 17, Masjid India ‘Mafia’ Controls Bazaar
June 15, Bukit Bintang MP May Sue PPBM Man As Bazaar Row Heats Up
June 14, Division Chief Furious Bersatu’s Name Dragged into Bazaar Scandal