THE Free Trade Zone programme, which was introduced in November 2020 to enable the people to conduct small business in suitable areas in the three Federal Territories, needs to be reviewed in order to meet its real goals, the Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Traders Association said.

Its president, Rosli Sulaiman, said this because there are many traders and hawkers who are allegedly doing business in unauthorised locations such as on sidewalks, thus blocking pedestrian traffic.

“We have received many complaints. Because stalls are placed on the sidewalk, members of the public are forced to walk on the road thus endangering their safety,” he said.

Rosli said the programme was originally aimed at helping those who lost their income due to the Covid-19 pandemic, by giving them free business space to make a living.

Taking into account the recovering economic situation, he said the initiative needs to be reviewed. There should be limits set as there are allegations that traders and hawkers are taking advantage of the programme.

“...rather than approving more traders’ applications under the WBB, it is better for Kuala Lumpur City Hall to take care of the good existing traders who actually make business their main source of income,” said Rosli.

Similarly, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Food Truck Entrepreneurs Association president Muhammad Azlan Abas said there was confusion with the term “free trade” under the  programme.

“The term ‘free trade zone’ refers to doing business in a permitted area, not on a pedestrian sidewalk. What if a member of the public gets injured?.

“In order to overcome the proliferation of hawkers and traders, there should be immediate monitoring and enforcement by City Hall. Perhaps it can hold discussions with traders or hawkers to determine the appropriate location so that it will not be like before (conducting business anywhere),” he said.

At the same time, Azlan hopes that traders’ associations can be empowered to help City Hall monitor hawkers and traders so that business is conducted at more organised locations.

“We are not law enforcers but there are elements that can help enforcement and when there is this recognition, it will strengthen the association’s position in the eyes of traders.

For example, the association can recommend to City Hall to cancel the licence of a trader or hawker if they do not follow rules,” he said. – Bernama, March 4, 2023.