KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is exploring a different location to set up tents for vendors at the Little India Deepavali Bazaar in Brickfields.
This decision follows the collapse of several tents that had been erected just days ago, which fell this morning due to heavy rain and strong winds.
The incident also caused major traffic jams in Brickfields, as the fallen tents obstructed one of the two lanes in the busy Little India area.
Images shared by Scoop showed DBKL officers at the scene working to reassemble the tents and manage traffic.
Speaking to Scoop, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said discussions will soon be held with all parties involved to find a new location for the bazaar, likely a short distance from the original site.
“Establishing a centralised trading area with tents was part of our original plan, and the tents were set up accordingly for the traders. Unfortunately, we are currently dealing with some issues related to this.
“We will make sure that all the tents are securely anchored and that traffic congestion is managed effectively. We have been gathering feedback from residents and the public, and we will consider alternative options for the traders to ensure that this year’s Deepavali Bazaar proceeds without any problems,” Maimunah said.
It is understood that DBKL intends to add 37 tents at Lorong Chan Ah Tong to give traders more space and comfort.
Earlier, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan criticised the tents at the Deepavali Bazaar, expressing concerns that they could collapse in bad weather and were too small for vendors selling sarees and festive attire.
He also noted that their placement along the main road worsened traffic congestion and deterred visitors.
During his visit to the site with members of the Brickfields traders’ association, Saravanan urged Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr. Zaliha Mustafa and the Kuala Lumpur mayor to personally assess the situation instead of relying on reports from their officers.
He added that traders did not request the “Jajahan Rakyat” and “Malaysia Madani” tents, as they were capable of setting up their own, and questioned the RM2,500 deposit requirement, pointing out that many small traders typically invest only RM2,000 to RM3,000 to start their businesses.
Last year, DBKL was tasked with managing and allocating all festive bazaars due to ongoing disputes over lot distribution.
This year’s Deepavali Bazaar will host 140 stalls at Jalan Bunus, Masjid India, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, and Jalan Rakyat. The bazaar runs from today until October 19. – October 1, 2025
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