The Jalan Othman wet market in Petaling Jaya reopened after an appeal from traders who lost their incomes during the enhanced movement control order (EMCO), said councillor Ermeemarianna Saadon.
The councillor in charge of the area said the market started operations on Saturday.
“We would have preferred to postpone the opening. But there are many traders who are from the B40 group who asked to open as they needed to earn a living. They don’t have any income other than the business at the market.
“We feel for them because since the EMCO, they couldn’t do any business,” she told The Malaysian Insight.
Ermeemarianna said they’re only allowing those who follow the standard operating procedures to operate first.
MyPJ, a group representing residents’ associations, Rukun Tetangga and several experts have called for the market to remain closed until its renovations are completed for the sake of public safety.
MyPJ spokesman Esham Salam said they are shocked at the deplorable condition of the market in spite of the intensive cleaning effort by the city council and the tenants.
The market was closed on April 27 because of a Covid-19 outbreak. The Jalan Othman area was subsequently put under EMCO on May 10, which was lifted on May 21.
Ermeemarianna said the market is not completely open, because renovations works are ongoing and tiling has to be done.
“We are doing some minor renovations and then we will look into renovating the whole market.
“All the minor renovations should be completed by end of the month. Then all the traders can carry out their business as usual.”
There are about 453 stalls and shops selling wet and dry goods and the market. – TMI