Road to recovery: Tie and Hidayatullah are among traders who would like initiatives that will allow them to grow their business.
JOHOR BARU: With food prices having risen several times in the past two years, hawkers and petty traders are hoping for some pandemic recovery assistance in Budget 2023, which will be tabled on Oct 7.
They said the government should ensure that the policies passed give the people more purchasing power.
Durian trader Tie Kian Chow, 41, said that while cash incentives for traders were welcome, the best way was to help people buy their products.
“People-centric incentives are more effective than giving us direct cash handouts,” he said.
Hawker R. Janaki, 38, however, said cash incentives were helpful.
“While they may not help in the long run, cash assistance will help reduce some of our burden,” she said.
Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Tan Meng Lee said the main issue the Federal Government had to tackle was inflation, to ensure prices do not continue rising.
“The Budget should include ways to control the rising cost of living. This has affected not only the lives of petty traders and hawkers, but all Malaysians.
“Many businesses are forced to absorb the extra cost from the increase in the price of raw goods,” he said.
Johor Baru Malay Hawkers and Small Business Entrepreneurs secretary Mohammad Salezan Mohd Salleh said the government should have more grants and programmes to help businesses recover and grow.
“We hope the Budget will include initiatives to help us recover and to continue growing,” he said.
Hidayatullah Sidek, 36, who owns a stall selling coconut and fried cempedak in Johor, hopes the government will also provide assistance to those affected by the weather.
“We have been having a difficult time dealing with the weather in the past few months. Traders in Taman Rinting have been hit by storms. I had to fork out more money to buy a new canopy,” he said.
In Penang, S. Gohilavani, 45, urged the government to control the price of food items.
“I have been a hawker for 16 years. In the past, I could buy a week’s supply of food for my family for RM200. Now, I get so much less for the same amount.
“The government should provide more subsidies for the B40 community.
“With the price increase of raw materials like cooking oil, flour and even noodles, what I earn is barely enough to support my family,” she said, adding that she has three children aged between 17 and 26.
A vegetable seller, who wished to be known as Ah Nam, 33, said he hoped the government could control the price of fertilisers and pesticides.
“These prices have increased by at least 90% and have led to more expensive vegetables.
“Although we are also paying income tax, we do not receive any subsidy from the government,” he said, adding that he has three children aged between five and nine years old.
