PETALING JAYA: The issue of foreigners illegally conducting businesses has been going on for far too long with nothing concrete done, says a national umbrella body.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said the government had failed to resolve the issue despite decades of complaints about foreign nationals operating businesses illegally.
He rejected attempts to place the blame squarely on local hawkers and traders, questioning why foreign traders were allowed to operate in the first place.
“Today, we keep blaming local hawkers for renting out or surrendering their licences to foreigners. This is not right. Who invited these foreigners to come to our country? We did not,” he said.
Rosli said foreign traders continued to operate in Pudu, Selayang and Chow Kit, where they could be seen selling fish and squid alongside local traders.
He said local authorities had told him that the Immigration Department was responsible for arresting foreign nationals, despite his repeated efforts to raise the matter.
“I will not defend our traders who employ foreigners illegally. But if there are Malaysians renting out their licences, they are only a handful,” he claimed.
He called for consistent enforcement, saying authorities should not allow unauthorised stalls to operate for months or years before taking action.
Zainal Rashid Ahmad, a humanitarian activist and the founder of the digital streaming platform ZRA STRIM, claimed that more than 90% of shops run by foreign nationals were operating under licences held by Malaysians.
“The real issue is Malaysians who have been given licences but then rent them out to foreigners. That is the bigger problem.
“Premises that were supposed to help bumiputra entrepreneurs are being run by foreigners instead,” he said.
Zainal said foreign nationals from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal were operating premises originally allocated to local traders.
He cited Pertama Complex, Campbell Complex, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Sungai Wang, Chow Kit and Petaling Street as hotspots.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) senior adviser for government, media and international engagement Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the body has not independently verified information to ascertain the extent of such arrangements.
He said the issue raised concerns over licensing verification, monitoring and enforcement, particularly when the person named on a licence was not the one actually operating the business.
“The issue is not simply the presence of foreign nationals in commercial premises, but whether the business is being operated lawfully and in compliance with the conditions attached to the relevant licence, permit and immigration status.”
He said enforcement should be continuous rather than concentrated around high-profile raids, with the relevant authorities verifying the actual operators and holding those who knowingly facilitated unlawful arrangements accountable.
Brickfields Business Community Society Kuala Lumpur president Datuk Alagarsamy Kumar said the association opposed any business arrangement that breached licensing requirements or other laws.
“All traders, regardless of nationality, must comply with the laws, regulations and licensing requirements set by the government.
“Anyone found engaging in illegal practices must be held accountable, and the relevant authorities should take appropriate action. The law must be enforced without exception,” he said.
