KUALA LUMPUR: Steps are being taken by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to review and restructure the business operation of Ramadan bazaars in the capital city next year, said Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) said City Hall is reorganising the business structure following recent challenges.
"God-willing, we are currently reviewing and restructuring the business. We aim to implement the best possible measures to ensure that businesses can continue operating during Ramadan in a much more organised manner," she said.
"We are studying aspects such as the number of licences to be issued and the fees to be charged to traders," she added in reply to a supplementary question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu) during Question Time.
Roslan had asked the government whether DBKL has any plans to give special incentives to KL Madani licence holders to ensure they will be paying high fees to operate their business during the upcoming Ramadan month next year.
Dr Zaliha added that licence holders can appeal to DBKL via proper channels to register to operate their business during the Ramadan month.
In response to the initial question, the minister said the KL Madani licence was rebranded in June 2023 from the KL Prihatin licence under the Wilayah Bebas Berniaga initiative, which was introduced on Nov 10, 2020.
"This initiative was launched as an effort to assist those who lost their sources of income during the Covid-19 pandemic. The KL Madani licence only allows the renewal applications for existing KL Prihatin licence holders. New applications will not be considered," she said.
According to internal data, a total of 4,328 licences were issued under the KL Prihatin initiative, she added.
"However, after the pandemic ended, only 433 licences remain active and have been renewed under the KL Madani brand, representing approximately 10% of the total," she said.
She said that hawkers will be monitored to prevent issues such as traffic congestion caused by trading in unsuitable locations and cleanliness.
"In this regard, through the Lestari Niaga Programme, City Hall is also in the process of reorganising hawkers in the capital city, including KL Madani licence holders, to ensure they can operate legally at more formal and structured stall sites," said Dr Zaliha.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, she said the programme has benefited a total of 2,621 traders and small hawkers through the implementation of 83 projects at 76 food stalls and market locations.
"The Lestari Niaga Programme will continue in 2025, with plans for 20 projects expected to involve 1,300 hawkers. We must acknowledge that hawkers play a crucial role in providing affordable products, especially ready-to-eat meals, to city residents. However, I am also aware of complaints from certain communities affected by disruptions caused by hawker activities, particularly from unlicensed hawkers. Therefore, DBKL will intensify enforcement actions to ensure compliance with guidelines and uphold public well-being," she said.
Hawkers still operating along roadsides and walkways need to be relocated through the Lestari Niaga Programme, as not all areas in Kuala Lumpur are suitable for hawker activities, added Dr Zaliha.
