JOHOR BARU: Three foreigners were found to be illegally operating stalls at two Ramadan bazaars here, said the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB).
Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said that the council seized the goods of the foreigners, from Yemen, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.“We have been conducting regular checks at Ramadan bazaars.
“The aim is to advise Ramadan bazaar organisers against allowing foreigners to operate stalls... Most followed it.“However, further checks found that there were foreigners operating stalls in some bazaars.
“We have acted against these traders by seizing their items,” he said, adding that the foreigners were operating stalls at the Ramadan bazaars in Bandar Baru Uda and Taman Anggerik.
Speaking to reporters after the MBJB full council meeting, Mohd Noorazam responded to queries about MBJB discovering foreigners operating stalls in the over 3,000 Ramadan bazaars under its jurisdiction.
On March 12, state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said local councils were on the lookout for foreigners illegally operating stalls at bazaars.
“All 16 local councils in Johor will step up enforcement to address this issue and stern action will be taken against those involved,” he said, adding that local councils have never issued licenses to foreigners to run businesses.
On another matter, Mohd Noorazam said MBJB has also issued compounds totalling RM7,750 to traders who failed to take typhoid shots.
“Following checks at Ramadan bazaars, we issued compounds to traders who did not take the typhoid shots.
“I would like to remind traders to ensure that those handling food, including their workers, must take typhoid shots, which is the main condition in any food business.”Earlier in his speech, Mohd Noorazam said the council had approved 18 locations for the sale of lemang for Hari Raya.
“We advise traders to take fire safety measures when burning the lemang due to the hot and dry season,” he said.
