AUTHORITIES in Johor are keeping close tabs on Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri bazaar traders and will crack down on any foreigners running stalls, says Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The housing and local government committee chairman said no licences were issued to foreign traders for these bazaars and warned that enforcement action would be taken against any violators.
“I have instructed all local councils to take stern action if foreigners are found operating stalls at these bazaars.
“We recorded more than 10 such cases last year involving three local council areas, where foreign traders operated among local traders and sold goods at much lower prices,” he told reporters after opening Kip Mall Tampoi in Johor Baru.
“If we don’t control this, it will hurt local traders. These Ramadan bazaars are meant to protect their interests.”
Mohd Jafni also reminded traders not to sell their food and goods at excessively high prices, noting that the state government has capped rental fees for Ramadan bazaar lots at RM500 to ease the burden on small traders.
He added that the state government planned to further standardise bazaar rental rates next year.
“At bazaars managed by associations or non-governmental organisations that rent sites from local councils, they sublet them to traders at much higher prices, sometimes charging between RM2,000 and RM3,000 per lot.
“Some strategic locations, such as Taman Suria, remain highly sought after, with traders willing to pay higher rent due to strong sales potential, as they can earn as much as RM30,000 within a month.
“We want traders to benefit from lower operating costs and in turn, offer more reasonable prices to customers during Ramadan.”
Mohd Jafni said 224 locations had been approved this year across all 16 local councils, comprising 13,576 trading lots for both Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars.
“Of the total, 205 locations are for Ramadan bazaars with 12,277 lots, while 19 locations are designated for Aidilfitri bazaars involving 1,299 lots,” he added.
