KUALA LUMPUR – A recent major event at Dataran Merdeka has the city’s residents concerned that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will spend more money on re-turfing grass on the square despite recent rehabilitation work.
The 2022 Mega Festival for Hawkers, Traders, and Small Entrepreneurs, which began on Thursday and ended yesterday, saw more than 20,000 people visit on the first day, raising worries about repeated damage to the grass.
City resident Ahmad Izham Abd Gani said that although the historic field is protected by canvas covers, DBKL needs to better manage the footfall.
“They just spent money to re-turf the field, only to have people trample on it in droves,” he said.
Calley Chin, meanwhile, said while it is fine to use the field as a gathering place, the size of the event as well as crowd numbers needed to be managed better.
“Putting up 500 stalls that will draw thousands of people, I don’t think it’s appropriate.
“It was already reported that there was RM700,000 worth in damage to the field after the Merdeka Day parade.
“So perhaps DBKL should improve its crowd control before allowing a massive affair such as this,” she said.
She was referring to news reports quoting Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah who said the Merdeka Day parade on August 31 – which saw 100,000 visitors – resulted in massive littering and RM700,000 worth of damage to the decorative plants surrounding the field.
This followed a five-month closure of Dataran Merdeka last year from July for major maintenance work that included re-turfing the grass and repairing the landscaping.
A member of the adjacent Royal Selangor Club said the field is meant for sports like cricket or lawn bowling, and not events that will see massive footfall.
“The field must be respected as a sporting venue and an iconic venue, not a night market,” he said.
The Vibes has reached out to DBKL but has not received a response at press time.
Hundreds of stalls and food trucks were set up on Dataran Merdeka for the Mega Festival for Hawkers, Traders and Small Entrepreneurs, which was launched by caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday.
Caretaker federal territories minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim extended the two-day event for a third day citing the good response received. – The Vibes, October 23, 2022
