SEVEN traders in Brickfields who had their stalls confiscated in a predawn raid last September have been given the green light to resume business.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers were today seen unloading the stalls in an area next to the Kortumalai restaurant, where the traders are expected to set up shop next week once they get electrical and water supply.

Trader V. Alagi, who sells vegetarian food, said it is a “dream come true” to be able to return to her usual business spot after 11 months.

“I’m lost for words at the moment. It is a dream come true, and I’m grateful to be back here.

“It’s been almost a year since our stalls were confiscated. It was a tough fight.

“The damage was done, and we suffered a lot, but I’m thankful to be back here,” said the 52-year-old single mother.

She thanked all those who helped finance her daughter’s education in the months she went without an income.

Another trader, Ooi Ah Boi, who had been operating at the same spot for almost 45 years, said she cannot wait to restart her business.

“I’m not rich, nor young. This is my bread and butter, and I must survive through this job.

“I’m very happy and thankful that DBKL has returned the stalls for us to continue our business here.

“I hope they (DBKL) can hasten the process of getting us power and water supply so that we can start business immediately,” said the 70-year-old fruit seller.

Lawyer Dinesh Praveen Nair, who represented the traders, said there was reason to question their eviction last year, given that their licences indicate that they are to operate next to the Kortumalai restaurant.

“The eviction is something that we don’t understand. We suspect that there were some other elements at work.

“The move was questionable, but we’re happy now that the place has been given back to us. Some of the stalls have been replaced with new ones, too,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said he hopes that DBKL will let the traders use the the deck above their stalls so that customers can have a seating area.

“We were told that it is still tenanted by the restaurant, but we have also been told that the restaurant may not continue its tenancy.

“If that’s the case, DBKL could terminate the tenancy and allow the traders to set up a seating area there. This way, DBKL would be helping small traders make a good living.”

In May, Dinesh presented evidence to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, linking local authorities to the eviction of the traders in Kuala Lumpur’s Little India enclave.

Asked if he will proceed with the case, he said he has not yet received instructions from his clients on the matter.

“MACC told us to lodge a complaint with DBKL’s Integrity Department, and we did. Some time afterwards, DBKL called us for a meeting, to return the spot to us.

“I do not know whether we will continue with the case. As of now, there have been no instructions from my clients.”

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz declined to comment on the matter, saying queries can be forwarded to Anwar Mohd Zain, director of the Licensing and Petty Traders Management Department.

Attempts to reach Anwar, who is on medical leave, have been unsuccessful. – August 13, 2018.