Nine Kuala Lumpur MPs have called on Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa to meet with them to discuss the planning and spending of the KL City Hall (DBKL)'s 2021 Budget as it will impact the welfare of city dwellers.
"It has been 16 days since our last statement and the FT Minister has yet to call for a meeting with all KL MPs. This meeting we want to have with him is very important," read a joint statement signed by the nine MPs - five from DAP and four from PKR.
In response to Annuar's announcement on Tuesday that KL will become a "free trading area" from Nov 15 and city folks keen to conduct small-scale trade such as opening a stall can do so at any suitable location in the city, the MPs called for steps to ensure that this was not abused.
"We welcome the FT Minister’s enthusiasm in being business-friendly and providing trading opportunities for those in need, especially in such trying times.
"However, the minister must ensure that this new policy is not abused and that it does not contribute further to the perennial problems of cleanliness and congestion in the city," said the MPs.
The nine MPs who signed the statement were Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju), Lim Lip Eng (Kepong), Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), P Prabakaran (Batu), and Hannah Yeoh (Segambut).
The other KL MPs, who were not signators of the statement, are Bersatu's Rina Harun (Titiwangsa) and Kamarudin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak).
In the statement, the nine MPs also asked for safety to be a paramount consideration in the implementation of this policy, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The pandemic has forced the closure of more than 30,000 SMEs nationwide.
"To be business-friendly, the FT Minister should be streamlining licence applications not just for hawkers but other businesses," said the MPs.
In making the free-trading area announcement, Annuar (photo) said those interested must apply for a temporary business permit valid for six months free of charge on the DBKL website.
"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 said. - Mkini
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