New enactment in progress to control influx of foreign hawkers, says Ng

PETALING JAYA: A new enactment for hawkers is in the process of being drawn up by the state government to control the influx of foreign hawkers, says Ng Sze Han.

The Selangor Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development Committee chairman said these foreigners were often seen operating at morning and night markets, as well as hawker stalls.

Ng said almost all of them had been operating illegally by using business licences belonging to Malaysians.

“We are aware of this issue and will not allow these foreigners to trade unless their businesses are properly registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia, ” he said, adding that registered passport holders must display their passport and conduct the business themselves.

Ng said this in reply to a question by Rawang assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat during the state assembly sitting yesterday.

Chua had urged the state government to monitor such activities and to reduce business licences sold to a third party, comprising mostly foreigners.

Ng said business licences issued by respective local councils must only be given to Malaysians and permit holders must be present at the business premises at all times.

He said if caught violating the guidelines, the local councils had the right to revoke the business licences and issue compounds.

“Continuous enforcement is being carried out by local councils to ensure no foreigners are trading with licences obtained by locals, ” he said.

Sentosa assemblyman G. Gunaraj proposed for the government to come up with a system where licence holders who abuse their permits be listed down.

To this, Ng said the system existed in all local councils and would be updated once these wrongdoers were caught during enforcement operations.

“But there are restrictions because council officers cannot arrest foreign traders unless a joint operation is carried out with police and Immigration personnel, ” he said.

Meru assemblyman Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar also urged for the state government to come up with harsher penalties against these foreign traders and Malaysians who abused their business licences.

“Maybe the fines are not high enough, ” he said.