Road closure delayed for traders
The decision was made yesterday by City Hall after listening to shopowners who feared that the closure might affect their earnings during the festive season.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said the shopowners can continue with business as usual.

The closure is to make way for the proposed construction of a four-way multi-tiered H-shaped junction in Jalan Peel.

Shopowners and traders were unhappy with the proposed closure of the road from Jalan Peel to the junction of Jalan Cheras /Jalan Pudu.

Several days ago Tan had met with representatives of the construction company, System Engineering and Construction Sdn Bhd, and Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

"The closure of the road is to enable road works along Jalan Tun Razak," a representative of the construction company who only wished to be known as Asmuni had said at the briefing.

"We have to close the road to build a beam because below Jalan Tun Razak is the Smart tunnel."

Tan said the week before the lunar new year was a profitable time for the traders.

"If the road was closed at this time, it will have an adverse impact on the traders' earnings.

"This is also the time when the public will be doing last-minute shopping and the road closure will create a chaotic traffic situation.

"One of the biggest markets in the country is in Jalan Pudu and it is always very busy during the Chinese New Year period. Closing the road now will worsen the traffic jam and cause inconvenience to the public."

The deputy director of City Hall's public works department, Wan Seng, said the local authority would try its best to minimise inconvenience to the traders and the public.

"The road closure will be done in stages and for short durations only.

"We will consider the grouses of those affected and take their views seriously. City Hall is here to serve the public. These road works are for the public's benefit and we have to work towards a win-win situation for everyone," he said.

The construction of the multi-tiered junction will also result in some traders and shopowners losing their premises or land to make way for the project.

Asmuni had said the affected shopowners would be having hearings with the land office from Jan 19 to determine how much land would be acquired for the project and the amount of compensation involved.

Tan said he would be arranging a meeting for the affected land owners and traders with legal experts to help them know their rights concerning the land acquisition.