Beef up enforcement, says association chairman

Concerned traders: Fong (third from right), Ang (on Fong’s right) and members of the association at the press conference.

THE Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association said more enforcement was needed to keep down the number of foreigners running businesses in Jalan Petaling.

Chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said this at a press conference where he expressed support for proper action to be taken against the business licence owners who allowed such people to run businesses there.

“We encourage the authorities, including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), to carry out frequent enforcement and even take away the business licences of those found renting out their stalls to foreigners to run,” he said, adding that regular spot checks would not require as much effort as a full-scale enforcement operation.

He said the situation gave Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown a bad image and the association was willing to cooperate with the authorities to fix the problem.

Ang expressed his appreciation for Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s concern over the situation.

However, he said the percentage of those leasing their stalls out to foreigners was closer to 50% of the 773 licensed traders in the area instead of 80% to 90% as claimed by the minister.

“There are also about 150 illegal stalls operating in the area,” Ang said.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, who was also present at the press conference, said there had been enforcement operations in the area in the past.

“However, sooner or later the foreigners will find a way back here. These may not be the same ones caught before but a fresh batch,” he said.