“We are trying to identify the owner of the lorry and we will let the person know that the trader must be allowed to conduct her business there during the permitted trading hours,” a spokesman for the council told FMT.

He said council officers had met the florist, Shakila Rajagopal, and received three reports from her.

The council had previously taken action by leaving a notice telling the lorry driver to park elsewhere but the order was ignored.

Shakila said the requirements of her trading permit prevented her from moving her business to a different spot.

According to council rules, all petty traders must specify the location of their trading sites when applying for a permit. They are allowed to operate only at their assigned premises.

The 51-year-old florist said she had been struggling to make a living since October when the lorry driver began parking at the area allotted for her stall. She has continued to pay RM90 a month to the council to keep her permit.

She is puzzled by the driver’s action as there is ample parking space in the area.

“Big lorries are not allowed into our residential compound,” she said. “So I understand that he has to park his lorry outside. But what’s frustrating is that sometimes he blocks my stall with his vehicle and refuses to move when I ask him politely.”

Shakila has sold sweets on the side, but her income has significantly decreased since it became difficult to sell flowers.

She and her husband had focused on saving up for their children’s tertiary education, but a fire two years ago at their previous home set them back with losses totalling RM150,000.

They now have to pay rent and instalments on a car.

Shakila constantly worries about being able to pay the fees for her eldest daughter, who is pursuing a law degree.

“It is not a cheap course to pursue, but we want to give her a good education,” she said. “My other two daughters are still in secondary school and we’ve had to pay for more internet data since they are attending online classes from home.”