A netizen recently took to social media to ask for the public’s help in assisting an elderly woman who was issued a fine by the Segamat Municipal Council (MPS).
Not long after the plea was made, a member from the political party MCA stepped in to help pay off the fine and negotiations for lower licence fees for vendors are currently ongoing.
Fined RM50 for not having a licence
In a Facebook post by Steven Tan, he wrote that came across the 90-year-old woman at Kampung Abdullah Segamat in Segamat, Johor on Jan 23.
While there, he reportedly saw an MPS officer issuing her a RM50 fine for selling homegrown vegetables without a license.
When Steven tried reasoning with the officer to impose a lenient sentence, the officer told him that he had to carry out his duties and follow the law.
The officer also informed him that aside from the fine, the woman has to apply for a vegetable sales licence, which costs hundreds of Ringgit.
However, Steven said the amount was “neither realistic nor affordable” for the woman as she only sells a few types of vegetables in small quantities.
Thus, if she’s unable to pay the fee, she effectively loses her only source of income.
He then ended the post by calling upon the public to give suggestions on aiding the elderly woman and ensuring her livelihood.
Intervention
News of the incident soon reached the ears of MCA Segamat Youth chief Tay Kok Wea, who quickly sprung into action.
In a Facebook post, he said he instructed a colleague to head over to the scene and pay the RM50 fine on the woman’s behalf.
He added none of it was done to put on a show, stating that it merely stemmed from his desire to help an elderly person who was at the brink of losing her livelihood.
“I have spoken to MPS’s enforcement unit and can confirm that no further fines will be issued to the woman. She can now sell vegetables without any worries.
“As for the licence issue, the woman only sells vegetables four times a month, and the current [licence] fee is indeed too heavy.
“I will raise this matter at a meeting to push for a ‘symbolic fee’. If it goes through, I will pay for all related costs thereafter,” he said.
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