SERIAN: Shopkeepers in Serian town are using the five-foot way as storage space for their goods to the extent that there is no longer a passageway for the public to walk through.
Their action has caused concern among members of the public who worry that accidents may happen, and someone get hurt.
Some law-abiding shopkeepers groused that the council seems to be turning a blind eye to this illegal practice.
A shopkeeper who did not want to be named said yesterday: “We cannot allow these people to defy the law. The council or authority must take action before any untoward accident happens.”
The Borneo Post team who happened to stop over for some refreshments realised what the shopkeeper was moaning on about after they knocked over some goods displayed on the five-foot way during a field trip in the district.
The shopkeeper also revealed that some of these errant traders even put up partitions, and make extensions that encroach into the parking space.
“They even cement the space meant for parking and use it to display their goods,” he said.
Some erect stalls at parking lots meant for motor vehicles.
The shopkeeper complained that such errant hawkers were mushrooming. He wondered who gave them the trading permit.
“Now we do not have enough parking lots for our cars so resort to using whatever space is available. Those from villages will be issued summonses by the police when they park their vehicles on yellow lines,” he said.
“Serian town used to have ample and systematic parking space but the situation has become chaotic,” he added.
“All these things happen in front of the authorities but nothing is done to stop them. We have exhausted all avenues with our complaints,” he lamented.
He hoped the media can highlight the complaints from this and other law-abiding shopkeepers in Serian.