MBPP appeals to MKN to consider allowing 35 hawker centres in or near markets on Penang island to operate from 6am

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THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP), on behalf of the state government, has appealed to the Malaysian National Security Council (MKN) to streamline the operation time of 35 hawker centres in or near the markets on Penang island.

 

MBPP secretary Datuk Addnan Mohd Razali said the city council had sent two letters to MKN – the first was on May 31, and another on June 23 – appealing it to consider allowing 35 hawker centres in or near the markets on Penang island to operate from 6am instead of 8am.

 

“We hope that the Federal Government can consider our appeal for the benefit of the hawkers there,” he said.

 

Under the current standard operating procedure (SOP), public markets are allowed to operate from 6am to 2pm, while hawker centres are allowed to operate from 8am to 8pm.

 

Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the additional two hours would make a world of difference to the hawkers in hawker centres which are located in or near the public markets.

 

“We have 1,297 hawkers in these 35 premises. I feel for them.

 

“I hope that the Federal Government can look into the matter and streamline the operation time; so that both the public markets and the hawker centres in or near the markets can start operating from 6am,” Jagdeep told a press conference at Taman Free School today.

 

Penang Hawker Association chairman Datuk Lam Tong Ying said the hawkers are suffering due to the operation time difference between the public markets and the hawker centres which are in or near the markets.

 

“Market-goers would normally buy food from these hawkers after marketing.

 

“But now, those who go to the market early will have to wait until 8am before they can buy their food.

 

“It has severely affected the hawkers. Business has gone down by about 50%.

 

“We hope that the Federal Government can consider the appeal and help the hawkers,” Lam said.

 

Jagdeep also appealed to the Federal Government to assist the people during this lockdown period.

 

“The Federal’s decision to impose the lockdown is good to curb the spread of Covid-19.

 

“However, the Federal Government must also be ‘prihatin’ (concerned) and understand the difficulty faced by the rakyat.

 

“The lockdown is impacting everyone’s livelihood. We hope that the Federal Government will come forward and assist the people who are severely affected by the lockdown,” he said.

 

Jagdeep (right) distributes face masks to the market traders in Taman Free School.

 

He also urged the people not to take Covid-19 lightly.

 

“We have seen the daily new cases in Penang gone down to two digits and then rose again. We cannot take the SOPs for granted.

 

“Please follow the SOPs and register to be vaccinated,” he added.

 

Also present were Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer, Batu Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi.