MIRI: There were mixed reactions to 'Ops Patuh 2' carried out by the Miri City Council (MCC) starting yesterday when a number of offenders were booked on the spot and their goods confiscated.

A durian seller, Osman Annuar, praised the council for its commitment to making the city a place which is conducive to trade minimal obstruction of road traffic and customers can come and go easily.

"It is right for the enforcement officers to compel errant traders at Tamu Muhibbah to clear the places where some of them have been storing their vegetables and fruits, thus causing traffic congestion.

"However, for sellers of seasonal fruits, like us, we should be allowed to trade here. We don't mind paying the rent if it is reasonable and the location is strategic. Last year, we paid RM150 per week here and even more in Boulevard area to sell durians. Both are very strategic places," he told The Borneo Post when met at Tamu Muhibbah yesterday.

Osman said this year they were asked to trade at Pelita Commercial area which he said was unknown to many people. This caused many vendors to trade at undesignated places near the indoor stadium, Mosjaya and Tamu Muhibbah.

He suggested that the council could adopt a system used by Sarikei District Council which charges small-time and occasional traders a minimal fee of RM2.

Nora Jenis from Suai Niah who occasionally comes down to the city to sell jungle produce such as 'buah ngekala' suggested that the council could allocate a certain place within the city for occasional traders.

"I only come by bus to the city when I have fruits or jungle produce to sell. I can’t afford to pay a monthly rental fee of RM30. My return bus fare costs me RM6 while I only bring half a basket of 'buah ngekala' which costs about RM10. There is very-little profit," she said.

Several other illegal hawkers who did not want their names revealed alleged that they were not allowed to trade at Tamu Muhibbah or at Saberkas weekend market.

They said they have tried several times to apply for trading licences and were told there were no more trading spaces.

Still, they hoped that the council would allocate a place for them to trade.

Meanwhile, two MCC sweepers, Biah Labang and Lemit Arang, who were meet during 'Ops Patuh 2' at Tamu Muhibbah supported the council's move to make the place good for trading and to visit.

"We frequently encountered uncooperative traders who expect us to clear their mess all the time.

We don't mind to assist if they put their rubbish in waste baskets instead of dumping them in drains and between flower pots or beds," Lemit said.

The three sweepers assigned to Tamu Muhibbah are required to sweep the floor and surrounding areas two to three times a day.

A random check by The Borneo Post showed that rubbish including durian skins and wooden boxes were thrown inside the drain next to the car park, and there were also rubbish in between the flower bushes.

(News from the Borneo Post)