SHAH ALAM, June 22 — Local authorities should consider reducing permit and licence fees, as well as cutting bureaucratic procedures, to help ease the burden on roadside traders and small businesses that are increasingly feeling the effects of global economic uncertainties.
Meru assemblyman Mariam Abdul Rashid said while she welcomed the 30 per cent reduction in rental rates for businesses renting local authority premises, roadside traders should not be overlooked.
“Small roadside traders should also be assisted. A comprehensive survey by the local authorities needs to be carried out so that they can be helped and attended to.
“There may be some among them who were affected and retrenched (from their original jobs). To ensure continued livelihood, they were forced to do business by the roadside,” she said when debating the Selangor Resilience Enhancement Package Phase 2 at the State Legislative Assembly today.
Phase 2 of the package, worth RM209.26 million, was tabled by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari on June 19 at a special sitting of the legislative assembly, with the aim of cushioning the impact of global economic uncertainties on the businesses and households.
Mariam proposed that the administrative processes for permit and licence applications be simplified to ease the burden on small traders.
She also called on local authorities to step up enforcement against illegal foreign traders, saying their increasing presence is affecting opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
“The authorities and government should eradicate foreign traders. I repeat, eradicate foreign traders who are now operating extensively, with more aggressive enforcement by the local authorities.
“We cannot allow them to grow as they are closing opportunities for local people to do business.”
Meanwhile, Mariam expressed support for the wider implementation of Jualan Ehsan Rahmah (JER), saying she has been receiving positive feedback from the ground that the affordable sales programme has greatly helped and benefited the people in easing living costs.
