IPOH: The RM100 million allocation for stall construction under the purview of local authorities (PBT) nationwide next year, as announced in Budget 2025, underscores the government’s commitment to supporting petty traders and hawkers in improving their economic status.
Perak Malay Petty Traders and Hawkers Association Kinta branch chairman Zahari Murad said that the initiative would not only provide more comfortable facilities but also enable new traders and hawkers to save on costs, by reducing their expenses for renting shop lots.
“For instance, in Ipoh, many hawkers require business sites and stalls registered under PBT, due to the lower rental rates compared with buildings or shop lots.
“On behalf of the association, we welcome the announcement of this allocation. It aligns with the current economic situation and the rising costs of raw materials,” he told Bernama, here.
On Oct 18, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2025, announced this allocation, which will also fund the upgrading of business facilities under Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), as well as provide trading spaces for small vendors at Tamu Desa in Sabah and Sarawak.
Zahari emphasised the importance of conducting research and discussions with stakeholders, to ensure that initiatives effectively achieve their goals.
“If possible, discussions should take place before constructing the stalls for these hawkers, including input from the hawker associations. This will help ensure that the chosen location is strategic, capable of generating income, and does not disrupt traffic flow,” he stated.
Roseleeza Mohamad Isa, 42, a trader at the Perak Stadium food court, echoed Zahari’s sentiments and expressed hope that any upcoming upgrading work would be communicated in advance. She stressed the need for a temporary site, to ensure that traders can continue their business during the renovations.
“I support all forms of development or upgrades to the facilities we rent, but the government needs to notify us at least three months in advance, before any work begins.
“This notification is crucial for informing our customers about the temporary location of our business, and facilitates our relocation process,” she explained.
Another trader at Perak Stadium food court, Saniah Abu Bakar, 61, expressed her hope that the upgrade work on facilities surrounding PBT-supervised stalls, such as toilets and prayer room, would also be prioritised, as these are essential factors in attracting customers.
The mother of three, who has been running her business at the stadium for over 30 years, stressed that good basic facilities contribute to customer comfort.
“If the surau and toilets are comfortable, insya-Allah, it will help us attract more customers, not only on weekdays but also on weekends,” she said.
Meanwhile, Siti Junaidah Marzuki, 52, also highlighted the importance of managing the allocated funds effectively, to prevent misappropriation and to ensure that they are used for construction or upgrading stalls under local authority supervision.
“Relevant parties could gather traders’ opinions on what changes or facility upgrades need to be made,” she suggested. – Bernama
