• DATO SERI TIONG KING SING: "Let an understanding be reached between the BDA and the traders."

In a press statement yesterday, Tiong, who is also a Justice of the Peace, said this was important to ensure smooth trading as the celebrants began festive shopping for the Lunar New Year preparation.

The member of parliament was saddened that at such a time, traders had to be slapped with 114 summonses by the BDA enforcement officers for displaying their goods at the five-foot way in front of their shops.

In the operation coded "Five-Foot-Way Operation" beginning January 14 until last Friday,  the enforcement carried out the action to remind the traders not to display their merchandise on the five-foot-ways to cause inconvenience to the pedestrians.

For the eatery outlets, the authority also forbade the owners to display their chairs and tables on the pavement for the same reason.

Tiong regretted the misunderstanding that had arisen from this operation, saying that he had received many complaints from the traders on the tough action.

Although he agreed with the enforcement officers in reminding the premises owners against displaying their merchandise on the five-foot-way to obstruct the pedestrian path, he said the traders should have been forewarned.

"It is understandable that as the Lunar New Year is around the corner, the traders will display more items to meet the demand of the market.

"But, there must be a balance of interests. It is learnt that the authority has received complaints against the traders' indiscriminate attitude to treat the public five-foot-way as their own properties in the way they displayed their items."

Tiong said he had requested the BDA before to allow the traders displaying their goods on five-foot-way, but, he felt this system should not have been abused.

"In view of the coming festive celebration, I hope an understanding can be reached between the two parties towards a win-win situation.

"After the traders sought my help following the just-concluded operation, I have talked over the matter with the BDA. I believe an understanding can be reached between the two parties."

Tiong therefore called on the Federation of Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries to mediate between the two and he hoped a dialogue could be held to reach this understanding.

He said he would also request Senator Pau Chiong Ung to attend the dialogue.

For traders who had received their summonses in the operation, he said they could register themselves with the Federation of Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries so that in the dialogue, this matter could be looked into.

The Five-Foot-Way Operation that ended last week was carried out under the Local Authority Ordinance (Cleanliness) By-Law,1999.

The By-law forbids the use of five-foot-ways as an extension for the traders' business premises.