PM: Waive hawker licence fees

CALL TO LOCAL COUNCILS: Najib says this can spur entrepreneurship

SEREMBAN: PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has pledged his support for the creation of  more micro-entrepreneurs by calling for the abolition of petty trading licence fees.

  He urged local authorities nationwide to abolish the licensing fees for petty traders and hawkers in a bid to spur more micro-entrepreneurs and make it easier for them to supplement their  income.

   "I  support all local councils to abolish the permit (for trade licence fees for hawkers and petty traders) and hope all local councils will follow  the initiative by Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

"It will create more places for hawkers and petty traders to operate," said Najib when launching the 2nd National Hawkers and Petty Traders' Day celebration at Dataran Senawang here yesterday.

  Mohamad had earlier announced  in his speech that  local councils in the state would stop charging hawkers and petty traders for their trade licences, starting this year.

  He said the policy would run for the next three years and urged enforcers to be lenient with petty traders who wished to set up businesses  as it was done to support their  families.

  Najib also had good news for Muslim hawkers and petty traders who lacked funds to set up businesses during Ramadan.

  "The government agrees in principle to set up a Ramadan Bazaar Scheme to provide interest-free loans, to be repaid in six months.

  "We will refine this scheme and announce it in June, prior to Ramadan," said Najib.

 He was referring to a request for incentives for such traders made by Coalition of Malay Petty Traders and Hawkers Associations Malaysia president Datuk Ramli Norani.

   Najib also  warned  hawkers and petty traders not to   rent  out their business premises to foreigners.

  "I have zero tolerance for hawkers and petty traders who do this.

"They must be responsible and not make an income by renting out these premises, which are provided by the government."

   Later, Najib presented a posthumous award to the late president of the Malaysia Petty Traders Association, Roslan Shariff, in recognition of his contributions.

  Other award recipients were Sarawak Hawkers and Petty Traders Association secretary general Kani-Isa Marican Sheikh Ismail;  a fried chicken entrepreneur from Seremban, Datin Siew Swee Kuan; and  tailor P. Selvam.

- New Strait Times