Federal Territory MCA notes Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) efforts to streamline services, reduce red tape and make it easier for restaurant and food operators to conduct business.
This is being done by standardising procedures, simplifying minor renovation approvals and facilitating the reopening of premises within 24 hours after hygiene-related closures, provided cleaning, safety and inspection requirements are fully met.
Ensuring tables and chairs along five-foot ways are orderly and do not obstruct pedestrians, wheelchair users or emergency access is reasonable.
However, the proposed RM30 monthly charge per set of tables and chairs requires greater clarity before implementation.
While RM30 may appear modest, it is a recurring monthly cost, not an annual fee.
This adds to rising rental, labour, utility, food and compliance costs already confronting operators.
Every additional expense exacerbates their operating burden and may ultimately be passed on to consumers already struggling with the rising cost of living, particularly in Kuala Lumpur.
Federal Territory MCA therefore asks:
> How will the RM30 collected from each set be utilised? Will the funds support the maintenance of five-foot ways, pedestrian accessibility, cleanliness or public facilities?
> What exactly constitutes one “set” of tables and chairs?
> Will a square table seating four to six customers attract the same RM30 charge as a larger round or oblong table seating eight to 10?
> If two square tables are pushed together to accommodate a larger family or group of friends, will DBKL regard them as one set or two?
> If diners themselves move tables together, will operators be penalised by enforcement officers? If so, operators may be forced to prevent customers from joining tables, unnecessarily disrupting families and larger groups who want to sit together.
> Will fees be based on the maximum number of tables available, actual daily usage or the number of sets used each month? How will DBKL calculate fees when numbers vary according to weekdays, weekends, weather or customer demand?
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh needs to respond to these questions and provide clear assurances to restaurant and food operators.
As the initiative followed engagement sessions involving the Minister, DBKL and industry representatives, the Federal Territories Department also has a role in ensuring these concerns are properly addressed before implementation.
Federal Territory MCA supports DBKL’s objective of cutting red tape.
However, a policy intended to make business easier cannot come at the expense of new costs, uncertainty and enforcement concerns.
We urge DBKL and the Federal Territories Department to engage operators further and provide clear, uniform and transparent guidelines to ensure that a measure intended to help businesses does not inadvertently burden operators or consumers.
DATUK SERI DR WEE JECK SENG
Federal Territory MCA State Liaision Committe Chairman
