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KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) will slash rental rates for hawker stalls and selected market premises by 50 per cent until the end of 2027, a move aimed at easing financial pressure on small traders and helping to reduce the cost of daily food for city residents.
Announcing the initiative, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said the measure is expected to benefit more than 10,000 stalls and small business premises owned by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), providing relief to both traders and consumers across the capital.
“This means families buying food to cook daily will see real relief in their household expenses, and it will benefit customers across Kuala Lumpur. I hope this initiative will be well received by the hawkers,” she said during a press conference at the Permaisuri Hawker Centre in Bandar Tun Razak.
Yeoh added that DBKL is among the first local authorities in the country to introduce such a large-scale rent reduction initiative aimed at supporting small businesses and urban residents coping with rising living costs.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud explained that the 50 per cent reduction will apply to all stalls owned by DBKL as well as selected market premises, with a minimum monthly rental rate set at RM50.
“This means that even with a 50 per cent discount, tenants will not pay less than RM50 per month. For premises with rents at RM50 or below, the rate will remain unchanged,” he said.
Fadlun added that tenants must first settle any outstanding rental arrears in order to qualify for the reduced rates. The rent reduction programme will take effect from April 1, 2026 and remain in place until December 31, 2027.
Yeoh also encouraged tenants with unpaid dues to take advantage of the initiative by clearing their arrears promptly, noting that demand for DBKL-owned stalls remains high. - March 14, 2026