NIGHT market traders must be on the e-payment platforms if they want to compete with other businesses, Kuala Lumpur Night Markets Organisation (PMKL) said.

PMKL president Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim said they have to keep up with the times to attract customers.

“We want to get all night market operators on e-payment platforms. They don’t have to keep their money in Milo tins, (instead they can) get it transferred directly to their bank accounts,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“Some of them are still writing their (transactions) in ledger books.”

Digital transactions can provide them with documentation so they can apply for loans, he said. 

Gulam said not more than 10% of the traders have gone online.

“We are planning to get about 40% of our members to start digital transactions by the end of the year.”

PMKL was set up in 2014 and oversees traders in about 70 night markets.

It has 14,000 members hawking a variety of goods and about 70 organisers to manage the night markets.

Gulam, however, said traders have the option not to accept e-payments. 

“We are planning to create awareness on (digital) platforms by educating traders. 

“The MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) is supplying the device for the online transactions.”

“After the pandemic… some people still don’t go out (to buy food). Online (transactions) have taken up 30% of the night market food business.

“Before the pandemic it was (mostly) physical business, but after that we realised we were losing customers to online platforms.”

Bringing tourists to night markets

Gulam said PMKL is looking to turn some night markets into tourist attractions like Petaling Street and the Jalan Alor market.

“Maybe five or 10 night markets can become tourist attractions. This will benefit the hawkers and traders.

“We need to work this out with Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Tourism Malaysia.

“What the traders need is capital. Maybe the government can give us soft loans or grants.

“We want upgrades in terms of uniformity, cleanliness and good food,” he said. – June 21, 2023.