Local authorities must be courteous when dealing with petty traders, says Johor state rep
ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 20 — The local authorities in Johor must take a courteous approach in carrying out their enforcement duties against petty traders in the state, said state representative Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman said he often received complaints about the way enforcement action are taken against petty traders, which should be carried out with courtesy and responsibility.
“There is a makcik who has been doing business without a permit in a particular area for the past 10 years.
“However, one day the local government enforcement officers came and seized her stall.
“Personally, the most appropriate course of action is for them to advice or warn first before taking drastic action,” said Mohd Jafni when answering a question from Datuk Pandak Ahmad (BN-Kota Iskandar) at the Johor state legislative assembly in Kota Iskandar here today.
Mohd Jafni, who is also the Bukit Permai assemblyman, said most of the petty traders are not well to do and depend on such work to support themselves and their families.
“Many of them also started small businesses after losing their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If they do not have small businesses, is the government able to provide RM1,500 a month as a minimum income for the concerned group,” he asked.
