KL to be 'free trading' area from Nov 15 - minister

 

City folks keen to conduct trade on a small scale such as opening a stall can do so at any suitable location in Kuala Lumpur starting from Nov 15.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said, however, they must apply for a temporary business permit valid for six months free of charge on the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) website.

‘’Kuala Lumpur will become a free trading area from Nov 15... anybody who wants to conduct business, regardless of whether it is full time or part-time, can pick a suitable site in front of their houses, or by the road of a housing area.

‘’The application is for the information and data record of DBKL. The applicants will get the temporary permit automatically, then the DBKL will monitor them,’’ he told reporters today.

Annuar said he had informed and discussed with the resident representative council in the capital on the matter so that it would conduct a community level monitoring.

He also reminded traders against operating in locations which could compromise public safety, cause traffic congestion, other than ensuring the cleanliness of the capital.

Earlier, Annuar handed over a stall, trading permit and a People’s Housing Project unit to Nurjahan Mariamah Abdullah, 45, who lost her job as a cleaner due to Covid-19 and was forced to sell ‘nasi lemak’ and ‘beehun’ using a trolley in Taman Desa.

The tale of the single mother known as Puan Mary who had to fend for her three children and mother went viral and caught the attention of the public, including Annuar and DBKL.

Meanwhile, Nurjahan Mariamah expressed her thankfulness at the aid given by the government and said she would make full use of the opportunity to generate income and improve her livelihood.

‘’After this, I don’t have to walk anymore and endanger myself to trade. Now, it is easier for the public to come to my stall to buy my ‘nasi lemak’ and ‘beehun’,’’ she added.

- Bernama