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Kota Kinabalu: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) should provide safe and practical trolley routes for traders at the Central Market before confiscating their trolleys, said Api-Api Assemblyman Loi Kok Liang.
Loi said the market was an important source of daily supplies for food stall operators, restaurants, coffee shops and other small businesses, with traders often buying vegetables, meat and other ingredients in large quantities.
He said he received a complaint today from a food stall operator who claimed his trolley was confiscated after he parked across the road and pushed it to the market.
The trader was allegedly told that trolleys were not allowed to cross the road and was required to pay RM100 to retrieve it.
Loi stressed that the complaint was based on one side of the story and said he would seek clarification from DBKK on the relevant regulations, enforcement procedures and basis for the payment.
“If the complaint is found to be true, City Hall must recognise the practical difficulties faced by traders. A trolley is not a recreational item; it is an essential tool that small businesses use to transport goods and earn a living,” he said.
Loi said if trolleys were prohibited from crossing the road for safety reasons, the authorities should provide a suitable alternative.
He noted that the pedestrian bridge to the market has no lift, escalator or suitable facility for transporting heavy goods.
“The authorities should not simply tell people which routes they cannot use without explaining which safe and practical route they can use,” he said.
He proposed that DBKK establish designated trolley routes and crossing points with clear markings and signboards, and prioritise advice over immediate confiscation until suitable alternatives are provided.
He also called for the procedures and basis for the RM100 payment to be reviewed if the complaint was substantiated.
Loi suggested upgrading the pedestrian bridge with a lift, escalator or ramp, stressing that both road safety and traders’ livelihoods should be considered in urban management.
He said activities and transactions at the Kota Kinabalu Central Market support market hawkers, food operators and surrounding businesses while contributing to the city centre’s economy.
“A trolley may appear insignificant, but it is an essential tool of livelihood for many traders. Road safety must be protected, but the livelihoods of small businesses must also be safeguarded through a reasonable and humane approach,” he said.
