Chinese hawkers to gain from RM20 million loan facility

The RM20 million loan facility through the 1Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Foundation in the 2017 Budget shows that the government is concerned with hawkers' welfare particularly those among the Chinese community.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said Chinese traders were often faced with the issue of increasing rental rates.

"Some of them cannot afford to pay their stall and site rentals which sometimes come up to RM1,000 a year.

"The cost does not include the cost of cooking ingredients and perishables which are ever increasing and cost of living is also high," he told Bernama yesterday.

Ang said the difficulties in obtaining loans had for a long time led to the traders' unstable income.

"I propose that the government increases the amount to RM30 million in future to help more traders especially those with low income to improve on their business," he said.

He said currently there were about 30,000 Chinese hawkers and traders in the Klang Valley registered under the association.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling the 2017 Budget announced that RM20 million would be channeled to the 1Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Foundation for loans to the Chinese traders.

Meanwhile, 1Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Rosli Sulaiman said with the loan the traders could increase their working capital to earn more income.

He said the amount was more than sufficient because the minimum loan of RM5,000 to RM10,000 for each trader could easily cover payment for rent and other stall necessities. -- Bernama