Lab to study foreign hawkers issue to be set up

A laboratory to study the issue of foreign hawkers will be established early next year to find a mechanism to curb them.

Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said the lab, which would be headed by his ministry, would also comprise of agencies from the Ministry of Human Resources and the Home Affairs Ministry.

He said it was high time that the issue, which was happening around the country was attended to, for bringing justice to local hawkers.

"The lab is not for finding out offences such as work permits, but to find a way to overcome the problem and find its root cause," he told a press conference after chairing the 2nd meeting of the National Consultative Council for Hawkers and Petty Traders.

Among other things that were decided at the meeting were tightening conditions for loan opportunities given out by the ministry that are managed by banks.

Hasan said the conditions were not related to reducing loan amounts but terms to ensure they repay the loans within the prescribed time.

He said timely repayments would give others the opportunity to apply for loans.