SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 — Traders who rent out their business premises or trading lots to foreigners could face stiffer compounds as the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) moves to tighten enforcement against licence abuses.
According to The Star, MBSA Enforcement Department director Sahrul Nizam Ahmad said the local authority is studying a proposal to raise the compound for such offences from the current RM300 to RM1,000.
Sharul said the review is now at its final stage and would be submitted to the council’s top management soon.
“We are looking at what has been implemented in other cities such as Klang, Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya,” he said when met after the MBSA full board meeting at Wisma MBSA here.
Sharul said the MBSA Licensing, Trade and Industry 2007 By-laws were among several regulations currently being reviewed as part of efforts to strengthen enforcement.
The proposed increase comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of business licences, particularly the “Ali Baba” practice, where licence holders rent out their premises or trading lots to third parties.
During the meeting, Zone 6 councillor Mohd Firdaus Mokhtar proposed the establishment of a special task force to coordinate enforcement efforts while Zone 22 councillor Muhammad Shakir Ameer Mohideen called for closer cooperation between MBSA and the Immigration Department.
Sahrul said MBSA could take further action against repeat offenders, including confiscating their goods.
“And if it involves physical premises, the owner might be issued a closure notice for violating the terms of his licence.
“This was recently done during an enforcement operation in Jalan Bukit Kemuning,” he said.
