CAP Urges MBPP To Review Ill-Designed Food Stalls In Ayer Itam

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to review the ill-designed new food stalls built at Lebuhraya Thean Teik, Ayer Itam here because they are too small and unconducive.

A total of 33 stalls were built by MBPP opposite the police quarters at Lebuhraya Thean Teik near the junction to Paya Terubong to replace former hawker stalls here for a road expansion project.

CAP’s survey found that the stalls measuring 12 feet long and 9 feet wide here have space only for cooking or food preparation and table to display food, but too narrow to place tables and chairs for customers.

The location of the stalls could also threaten the safety of these hawkers and their customers because they are too close to the road. The food served at these stalls is also prone to be contaminated with dust and vehicle emissions.

The hawkers whom CAP met complained that they are not comfortable and are concerned that the present location of the food stalls may affect their revenue if people do not come here.

Besides this, the high roof does not provide sufficient shelter when it rains. Additionally, the stall floors were raised too high from the street level, resulting in some traders putting up wooden crates as temporary steps.

CAP hopes that the problems faced by the hawkers here are given serious attention and prompt action is taken to solve their problems.

The Penang government and MBPP should consider the plight of small businesses rather than prioritising road widening projects that may not necessarily solve traffic congestion here. CAP suggests that a discussion is held by the authorities with the affected traders to seek a solution that would guarantee the welfare and safety of both the traders and consumers.

Press Statement, 2 September 2016