KUALA LUMPUR – Authorities should limit the number of traders in a parliamentary constituency based on the number of residents in order to prevent unhealthy competition between businesses, a traders group has suggested.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said certain localities are currently experiencing an oversupply of traders offering similar goods and services to customers.
He urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to conduct censuses to identify the number of residents in constituencies under its jurisdiction, adding that newly appointed mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif should take the lead on such an initiative.
“An imbalance between the number of traders in an area and the constituency’s population will lead to imbalances (in supply and demand), thus causing unhealthy competition between businesses,” Rosli told a press conference here today.
“Businesses will then suffer as their operations will not grow and they will be forced to continue their hand-to-mouth existence without having the chance to increase their income nor their living standards.”
Pointing to the Bukit Bintang area here, Rosli said while it is a popular hotspot for traders to set up shop, there are no known statistics on the number of residents in the area.
Besides that, Rosli also called for Maimunah to take consistent action in cracking down on illegal foreign businesses in the city centre, claiming that local traders suffer while such businesses are allowed to continue cropping up.
“The issue of foreigners (running businesses here) has been left unsettled for years now. In terms of daily income, local traders (in Kuala Lumpur) are making less than RM100 a day now.
“They used to be able to generate more than that while saving at least RM3,000 a month, but with uncertain economic conditions and an influx of foreigners here, local businesses are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
He added that enforcement action against local traders who flout the law will only be effective if such efforts are preceded by stricter measures against foreigners illegally conducting business here.
In recent months, DBKL has executed several crackdowns on illegal premises, including those manned by migrants. Such special operations typically include raids, seizure of items and the issuing of compounds related to business activities without valid licences. – August 19, 2024