Hawker association needs to discuss with DBKL before night market SOP can be amended

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged the hawkers association in the capital to discuss with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on the night market standard operating procedure (SOP) which was deemed too rigid.

He said the government is prepared to amend the SOP if there is agreement between the two parties.

"We accepted the DBKL presentation because they have already discussed with the hawker association.

"When they are presented, we agree because at that time they are complaining that they cannot do business. So, if there are things that bother them, then the association can meet with DBKL to discuss what they disagree with," he said at a press conference here on Wednesday.

DBKL can then bring the matters raised by the association to the discussion of the Special Ministerial Meeting.

"The DBKL will bring it back to the Special Meeting for our consideration, and we will discuss it again. If the DBKL says the amendment is needed, then it will be taken to the committee of ministers.

"If we can amend according to their wishes, we will do so, but first consult the DBKL because it is them who will bring the matter to the Special Ministerial Meeting," he said.

On Wednesday, some 500 hawkers and night market traders at the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman decided to suspend their business operations throughout the RMCO as they felt the SOP was too rigid.

They called for the SOP to be reviewed because it was considered unreasonable to apply to night market traders.