AUTHORITIES have handled the problem of foreign traders hawking their wares at the Selayang wholesale market in Kuala Lumpur, said a traders’ group.

Kuala Lumpur Malay Association of Traders and Small Hawkers president Mohamad @ Joe Abdullah said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been acting against these foreign traders for several years.

He said this to dismiss claims that foreign traders are making a comeback at the Selayang wholesale market.

“Recent claims that foreign traders are conquering the Selayang market are not true. You can come to Selayang market and see for yourself.

“There are two things to highlight, foreign traders and foreign workers. Foreign workers, yes there are foreign workers working here, but foreign traders who own a store for example, there is no such thing.

“If there is, DBKL would have taken action. DBKL has already taken action for the past several years. In fact, DBKL has seized thousands of assets belonging to these foreign traders,” said Mohamad. 

Last month, it was reported that foreigners had returned to both the daily and wholesale Selayang market to illegally operate their business.

A check by Bernama revealed that although authorities had raided the place several times, it did not deter them from returning there to operate, including hawking their wares along the five-foot ways of shop buildings near the two markets.

It was reported that in the daily market, which opens from early morning to evening, there are more foreign traders selling vegetables, fruits and perishable goods during the weekend.

Mohamad also reminded the public not to buy from foreigners if they stumble upon foreign traders in Selayang.

“As far as we know, action has been taken by DBKL. However, if local consumers find foreign traders here, they can always lodge a report with the authorities and boycott the traders.

“They won’t be able to do business if we don’t buy from them. The problem is that our own awareness is low. If we buy from them, it is like we support them.

“So my advice is to just boycott foreign traders if you find any. At the moment, our association can tell you that there are no foreign traders here at the Selayang market,” he stressed. – April 24, 2022.