Equipment left behind by a burger stall operator taking up space near a park in Taman Wahyu Kepong. — Filepic
THE Federal Territories Department (JWP) is assessing the viability of the “Wilayah Bebas Berniaga” (Free Trade Zone) programme for hawkers to determine whether it should be continued.
An official from the department told StarMetro that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Federal Territories, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, had been briefed on the issues arising from the initiative and was looking into the matter.
The Free Trade Zone programme was meant to assist the B40 group to earn a respectable income during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Launched on Nov 10, 2020, the programme has been extended five times until the end of December 2023.
It has caused concern among city residents who complained that the licensed hawkers, who were designated specific locations, had breached licensing agreements, affecting public safety and cleanliness.
Many of the traders caused obstruction and congestion by leaving behind structures such as chairs, tables and canopies after business hours or by operating at unauthorised locations.
Others have taken advantage of the programme by subletting their licences to foreigners.
There were also complaints that the traders failed to dispose of their rubbish properly.
Taman Desa Residents Association chairman Wong Chan Choy said, “We have seen an alarming number of traders springing up like mushrooms in Taman Desa.
“Stalls operated by foreigners are appearing in front of the petrol station here and on main roads.”
A long-time Brickfields resident, Saranya Velu, said traders and food truck operators were taking up much-needed parking bays in the township.
Dr Zaliha is considering whether to continue with the programme.
“Stalls are emerging along traffic-heavy roads and even at traffic lights.
“These locations should be off-limits to traders. I hope the authorities will address this issue,” she added.
Over 5,000 trading licences have been issued in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan since the programme’s inception.
However, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been repeatedly criticised for its inability to manage the situation effectively.
Traders pay a licence fee of only RM20 and a monthly operation fee of RM30 to keep their costs down.
Their licensing conditions require that they do not leave behind permanent structures or belongings at the trading site or sublet the licence.
At a meeting last year with mayor Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh, Kuala Lumpur MPs were informed that the initiative would end on Dec 31, 2023.
