IPOH: The Perak Perkasa Malay Hawkers and Small Traders Association (PPKMP) has held discussions with local authorities to seek a reduction and standardisation of annual hawker licence fees across the state.
Its president, Alfirza Munira Abdul Muin, said rising annual licence fees had frequently been raised by association members due to differences in the rates charged by local authorities.
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She said annual hawker business licence fees currently ranged from RM170 to more than RM400, which could place a financial burden on some less well-off small-scale hawkers.
“We (PPKMP) have held discussions with local authorities throughout the state to find a suitable solution, as differences in fees between areas are among the issues that have raised concerns among association members,” she told reporters at the Hawkers and Entrepreneurs Carnival with the Community programme here today.
Alfirza Munira said one of the matters discussed was a proposal to standardise hawker business licence fees across all local authorities in the state.
Alfirza Munira said that, based on feedback received so far, the standardisation of hawker licence fees was expected to be implemented by local authorities from next year.
“For now, the matter requires further discussions among the relevant parties, and no final decision has been made,” she said.
She said PPKMP had more than 600 members in the Kinta district, while its total membership across Perak exceeded 2,000.
According to her, 30 traders and hawkers took part in the one-day carnival, which featured a variety of goods, food and beverages. An estimated 3,000 visitors were expected to attend.