GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government plans to apply for 100 more MyKiosk units due to high demand from traders following the deployment of the initial 80 units in the state.
State local government, town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye also refuted claims that the kiosks were “white elephants” as alleged by certain parties.
"The Penang City Council received an offer for the kiosks under the Housing and Local Government Ministry's programme in 2022 and submitted an official application to build 45 units, with 35 units approved in 2023 costing RM15,000 a unit," he told reporters after inspecting five kiosks at Miami Beach near here on Sunday (May 18).
He also informed that all 35 kiosks under the council were placed at 10 locations, with 32 of them occupied, and the remaining three kiosks - at Padang Tembak Complex and Kota Selera Complex - would house unlicensed traders in the area.
The remaining 45 kiosks are in areas under the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), with 30 located in Taman Robina, five in Vision Park in Bertam and 10 in South Seberang Perai, H'ng said, adding that they received RM690,000 in allocations from the ministry for the units.
"Rental rates for kiosks under the council are RM145 monthly including licence fees of RM45 while for MBSP it is RM120 a month.
"Currently demand is very high and we will prioritise unlicensed roadside hawkers so they can conduct their businesses legally," he added. - Bernama
