50% rental discount for DBKL hawker sites until December 2027

 Federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh says it will help more than 10,000 hawkers and micro-traders by reducing their operating cost pressures.

Federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh with Bandar Tun Razak MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Kuala Lumpur mayor Fadlun Mak Ujud at the press conference, held at the Bandar Tasik Permaisuri hawker centre this morning. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today announced a 50% reduction in rental rates for hawker sites and selected premises under its supervision, effective from April 1 until Dec 31, 2027.

Federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh said the initiative is expected to benefit more than 10,000 hawker sites and small business premises owned by DBKL in the federal capital.

Yeoh said the move aims to help reduce operating cost pressures faced by hawkers and micro-traders, particularly amid rising costs.

She said the decision was made in response to increasing cost-of-living pressures driven by global economic uncertainties, including rising world oil prices and logistics costs.

“This initiative also places DBKL among the first local authorities in Malaysia to implement a comprehensive rental reduction on a large scale to help small traders and urban residents cope with the cost-of-living pressures,” she said at a press conference at the Bandar Tasik Permaisuri hawker centre here.

Present were Kuala Lumpur mayor Fadlun Mak Ujud and Bandar Tun Razak MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Yeoh said the reduction in rental costs is also expected to have a positive impact on residents in the capital who purchase food and daily necessities, thereby helping to ease household expenses.

“I hope initiatives like this will be well-received by hawkers.

“I also urge those who have rental arrears to take advantage of this two-year initiative to settle their outstanding payments, as we cannot wait indefinitely given the high demand for such sites,” she said.

Fadlun explained that the reduction involves an overall 50% cut, with the minimum rental rate set at RM50 per month.

“For premises with rental rates of RM50 and below, the rental rate will remain unchanged without any reduction,” he said, adding that tenants must first settle any existing arrears before they are eligible to benefit from the incentive.

At the same time, he said, DBKL will continue to monitor cost-of-living developments and take proactive measures to ensure Kuala Lumpur remains an inclusive and resilient city that prioritises the welfare of its residents. - FMT