Padungan rep seeks clarification on ‘ambiguous’ instruction to ice cream booth to cease trading due to ‘maintenance works’

Chong Chieng Jen

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 1: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen has today written to the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) seeking clarification on ambiguous instructions for a ‘gula apong’ ice cream booth to stop trading at Kuching Waterfront when the business owner has paid full rental and license fee of RM9,240 for the one year from Jan 1, 2024, to Dec 31, 2024.

He said a letter dated Dec 29, 2023, from DBKU directed the business owner, Mr Liew, to cease trading and vacate the kiosk by June 30, 2024, so that the council could ‘menjalankan kerja penyelenggaraan dan pembersihan di Kuching Waterfront’ (carry out maintenance and cleaning works at Kuching Waterfront) on July 1, 2024.

However, Chong said he was informed that no upgrading work had been carried out after the service of the letter, and thus, Mr Liew was allowed to continue trading at the kiosk without any interruption.

He said another letter from DBKU to Mr Liew dated Feb 1, 2024, was never received by Mr Liew.

Meanwhile, he said a third letter dated June 24, 2024, stating a seven-day notice for Mr Liew to stop trading was too short of a notice when the owner had paid the full rental and license fee.

“Furthermore, the effect of the letter is to put an abrupt stop to his means to earn a living. Reasonable time ought to be given to Mr Liew to make an alternative plan, bearing in mind that it is his livelihood at stake,” he said in his letter to DBKU dated today.

Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said the council did not inform the type of ‘maintenance and cleaning works’ to be carried out at Kuching Waterfront and the duration of such works in any of their letters to Mr Liew.

He also inquired DBKU whether the council would allocate an alternative area for Mr Liew to trade during the time when the ‘maintenance and cleaning works’ are carried out.

“Please be assured that Mr Liew is in full support of your good office’s effort to maintain the existing surroundings and to keep it clean.

“All that Mr Liew requests is to minimise the impact on his livelihood.

“Furthermore, since Mr Liew has started selling ice cream at the kiosk, it has become a centre of tourist attraction and also a social media checkpoint.

“Mr Liew is afraid that a prolonged close-down of the kiosk will cause it to lose that attraction in future,” Chong added.

This morning at 9am, hawker stalls along the Kuching Waterfront were dismantled and their signages removed during DBKU’s Ops Sita initiative. — DayakDaily