Petaling Jaya traders demand flood solutions and rent relief

Traders at the Medan Selera 223 food court in Petaling Jaya are urging the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to take decisive action against persistent flash floods. They are also demanding answers regarding their plea for a rental exemption until December, citing continuous financial losses. The traders submitted their request through the official WhatsApp group with MBPJ, expressing their frustration over the recurring incidents. Jamaliah Yusoff, assistant head of the Medan Selera 223 Traders Association, stressed that MBPJ must investigate the actual cause of the water overflow rather than offering only temporary solutions after each flood. "The traders demand that MBPJ solve the flood problem from its source without needing to demolish shops or undertake lengthy renovations that disrupt our operations," Yusoff stated. She added that the shop structures have remained unchanged, suggesting the issue stems from surrounding construction or an inadequate drainage system. Flash floods at Medan Selera 223 are not a new problem, with the popular location experiencing severe water overflow more than five times. The most critical incident occurred in April, causing three consecutive days of flooding. Regarding trader welfare, Yusoff mentioned that assistance so far has only included shop cleaning services and a two-month rental exemption for May and June of this year. "However, there is still no answer for the subsequent months until December," she noted. "Traders cannot close their shops for too long as daily income will be affected. Usually, if there is a flood today, some will start trading again tomorrow after cleaning their shops." Yusoff also pointed out that the flood siren installed by MBPJ in May serves merely as an initial measure, prompting traders to evacuate. The idea of relocating is also difficult for most traders who have operated for decades and have established regular customers from nearby factories and offices.