PETALING Street, with its more than 100 years of history as Kuala Lumpur’s “Chinatown”, has revamped its business model with a controversial “zero migrant workers” policy, a traders’ and hawkers’ group said.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting freeze on foreign workers in favour of local labour has enabled the street market to address some of the stigma it used to have, such as being a haven for counterfeit goods and for having more migrant hawkers than locals.

Kuala Lumpur Hawkers’ and Petty Traders’ Association chairman Ang Say Tee said Petaling Street traders took the Covid-19 crisis as an opportunity to reshape the market as a prime nightspot for local food and delicacies, manned by young locals instead of migrant workers.

Youthful, vibrant hawkers and more food

Since its reopening more than a week ago, business has been at between 30% and 50%, with many customers expressing interest in the new “zero foreign workers” concept.

Ang said the policy has been criticised by some quarters for being discriminatory but insists the hawkers and traders will continue with it.

“Petaling Street used to be mocked for losing its Chinatown flavour and having more migrants over the years.

“This is now a chance to take care of local businesses and also to comply with Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) policy of having zero foreign labourers.

“We are accused of discrimination but we can’t stop people from voicing their opinions,” he said.

The new model was thought up two years ago and was inspired by street food markets in Taiwan and South Korea.

Ang’s association did a study tour to both countries and saw how popular street food at night markets were.

They also realised that in Taiwan’s night markets, many of the vendors and hawkers were local youths.

“We are giving Petaling Street a makeover by having more youths take over. We need more youth participation to liven up the place.

“I was once a hawker myself and there can be a good future in such an occupation. We welcome youth to set up their business here,” Ang said.

As many of the current vendors are older, the association is also working on collaborative agreements that include tie ups with younger hawkers.

This will also help Petaling Street vendors comply with DBKL’s policy not to lease or sell stalls or lots to third parties. Leasing can only be done if the partner is in collaboration with the licensed vendor.

It was difficult to implement the zero foreign workers policy before the Covid-19 pandemic, Ang said, as many hawkers used migrant labour to run their stalls.

The government has now imposed a freeze on new foreign workers until the end of the year to give locals jobs after unemployment grew in the months after the MCO.

For now, Ang said, the revamped night market has around 30 stalls, a number the association aims to increase gradually.

With rules to curb the spread of Covid-19 still in place, stalls begin closing between 8pm and 9pm, earlier than the pre-MCO days.

Surviving Covid-19 by attracting locals

Ang said the new policy and its new focus on food will also rid Petaling Street of its reputation as a haven for counterfeit goods.

He said this was one reason local shoppers avoided the area as vendors would take advantage of unsuspecting customers by charging high prices for fake branded goods.

It is also for Petaling Street’s survival, now that the country’s borders are closed to foreign tourists. By doing away with the vendors selling fake goods and focusing more on food, Ang said, the night market hopes to attract more Malaysians.

A fruit vendor who gave his name as Yen, said he had enjoyed good sales in the one week since the revamped night market opened.

“It was good to see so many people again, I think my business is back to about 30%. I’m still operating at a loss but it is better than no income,” said the 52-year-old who has been hawking at Petaling Street for 30 years.

He also welcomed the makeover and new policy.

“Petaling Street used to sell watches and souvenirs but the lack of foreign tourists had seriously affected business. So the makeover was a good idea as we can still attract some locals and increase foot traffic,” he said.

Frankie Loh, 40, who sells souvenirs and handicrafts, said he had been able to sell something every day since the reopening.

“Business is so-so, I need more time to observe, but for now it is a good opportunity to be here and give it a try.” – August 29, 2020.