Little India protests no effect on shopping carnival

The nationwide protests by local Indian traders alleging loss of businesses to foreigners appear not to have any effect on the latest international shopping carnival in Penang.

Malaysia-India Chamber of Commerce (Maicom) assistant secretary-general DP Ganaa (left), organiser of the five-day event dubbed the Penang International Indian Shopping Festival, said the protests may have even help publicise the activity here.

He was referring to the July 16protests by traders in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kedah, with many shops closed to express their unhappiness over the annual shopping event supported by the federal government.

The event is being held at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa), Bayan Baru, from today to Saturday.

Jointly-organised by Maicom and Agenda Suria Communication, Ganaa said the shopping carnival would continue to be organised every year despite the protests.

"We are not  trying to compete or snatch businesses away from Little India, but only (want to) strengthen the market for Indian products and give consumers wide alternative choices," Ganaa toldMalaysiakini when met at Pisa.

Ganaa said response to the carnival has been growing with 179 outlets taken - of which, 12 are run by Penang traders and the rest are from Kuala Lumpur (70 percent), with the remaining 30 percent are operated by foreigners.

He denied that foreign traders were given special privileges as they have to fork out RM6,000 for rental of booth, while the organisers pay a flat rate of RM200,000 for the rent of exhibition hall for the duration of the event. Local traders are charged RM4,000 rental for a booth.

"A foreign trader does not have it easy. He has to fork out not only the rental money for the outlet but also his flight ticket, visa application for him and his workers, hotel and transport expenses, food and custom duties for his goods.

"So it is not true that he does not have to spend much compared to local traders who open their shops 365 days a year and pay taxes to the government," he added, referring to arguments raised by local traders during their protests.

Ready for protests

However, while response from the public has been good, Ganaa said organisers are prepared to face protests at the venue, although there has been none so far.

During their protests, local traders also alleged that foreigners entered the country illegally to trade their goods.

"Due to the complaints, about ten officers from the Immigration Department have come to check on the shops,” he said, adding the officers left after one and a half hours upon finding all documentation in order.

"We are also expecting the Customs Department to do their rounds. Anyone can come as we can manage it or else we would not have survived for 10 years," he stressed.

Ganaa said he has been involved in organising the carnival for the past nine years but due to fierce opposition, the organisers have agreed to trade for only five days instead of 10.

He said despite the mounting dissent, Penang has a strong consumer market as there are not many events such as the carnival for the Indian community in the state.

He vehemently refuted allegations that the goods sold at the carnival were of low quality.

"In five years, the crowd has increased, from 50,000 to about 200,000 now. How can they say our goods are of low quality? The crowd will not increase if this is true.

"If the products have such low quality, how can we survive for 10 years. Surely there is some magic here. Until today, we have not received complaints about our goods," he added.

Ganaa said other than encouraging shopping, such trade carnivals promote bi-lateral trade,  not only for the Indian community but international traders also seek to explore businesses with other communities.

"Some foreign traders decide to open shops here, or participate in the Malaysian as Second Home programme, and they have open bank accounts and buy properties here. They help the local economy flourish," said Ganaa.

‘Buy in bulk’

On complains that the carnival sells cheap things, he suggested local traders “take the opportunity to buy in bulk which they can sell later to their customers?"

"The way of doing businesses now has changed. Prices are competitive. Consumers can just take a flight and go to India and do their shopping.

"What is the point of local traders trying to profit five or six times more by selling their goods at a steep price when people have alternatives to the products you are selling and they are tagged with a lower price tag?" he asked.

Asked if the carnivals would continue despite the protests, Ganaa asked "why not?".

"But we will consider holding the carnival in the first quarter of the year. We don't want to clash with the local traders who want to capture the local market during festive times like Hari Raya, Deepavali or Christmas," he said.

Meanwhile, when met earlier today, Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow (right) said the carnival organisers may skip the state next year if protests go on.

"However, if the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce wants to hold a similar carnival, we will support it," said Chow, who is also assemblyperson for Padang Kota, where Little India is situated.

"You don't simply hold a protest and do nothing," he added when met at the launch of a water taxi by the Eastern and Oriental Hotel this morning.