The Malaysian Insight

AFTER being jobless for eight months, city folk will now be able to earn a living, with Kuala Lumpur City Hall opening up spaces for people to trade at selected areas around the city.

The traders told The Malaysian Insight they now have an avenue to generate income to provide for their families.

Hairy Ahmad, 31, who sells takoyaki (Japanese snack), who has not been working for the last eight months said he can now pay his monthly rent.

The 31-year-old used to work as a restaurant manager before he lost his job at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Before this I undertook online food delivery to survive. We weren’t making much. 

“So, this business will definitely help my family out,” he said.

Hairy said with the business he will not have to worry about not being able to pay his bills.

“I have rental arrears, water and electricity bills. But with this income, I will not default anymore.”

On November 11, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said city folk keen to trade on a small scale, such as opening a stall, can do so at any suitable location from November 15.

However, he said they must apply for a temporary business permit valid for six months free of charge on the City Hall website.

The business space offered consists of kiosks or business sites in strategic locations.

Out of 557 applicants, 234 were selected to receive business space offers to start their business in the capital from November 15 to April 15, 2021.

The kiosk and business site locations for this phase include 11 kiosk spaces in the River of Life area, 16 business sites for food trucks, 100 business spaces in Berjaya Times Square and 107 business spaces at bus and taxi stops around Kuala Lumpur.

Mohd Amiruddin, 36, who sells bedding products, is grateful he will not have to worry about providing for his family.

“I used to sell my wares at malls, but when the pandemic hit we had to shut down.

“I was jobless for eight months. We ventured into online food business to survive, but there was stiff competition,” he said.

The father of three said with this income he will be able to buy diapers and milk for his children.

He added that while they do get Bantuan Prihatin Nasional, they are saving it for emergencies, such as medical and the children’s expenses.

Normeharan Abdul Majid, 41, who sells head scarves and traditional dresses, applauded City Hall for giving them a means to earn a living.

“Businesses are slowly picking and we hope to improve. We also hope City Hall can give us some monetary assistance to help us sustain.”

Nazrina Hamzah, 42 who sells handbags, said her husband is a driver and ever since the movement-control order, he is not able to earn enough.

“This is why I registered to open up a stall here.

“I hope with this business it will at least ease the burden on my husband to pay the bills,” she said.

Another vendor Fazlina Amran, 36, said she used to run a grocery store but due to the pandemic she was forced to shut down as her business was not doing well.

“I hope selling mixed rice will help me to earn a bit more and I am very sure I can save more money, since there is no rent payment needed to open a stall here,” she added. – November 15, 2020.