THE Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Penang branch welcomes the state government’s decision to regulate the participation of outstation traders in Indian festive trade fairs.
This comes following the announcement made by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow during a press conference yesterday (July 21).
Chow noted that, as part of existing state policy, permits are not issued to outstation traders for organising Indian fairs, festivals, or carnivals during peak times, to avoid disrupting local Indian businesses.
He added that traders from outside Penang are not banned, but are only permitted to organise Indian-related sales fairs between April and June.
In response, Penang MICCI chairman Datuk S. Parthiban expressed that the measure was essential to safeguard the livelihood of local Indian traders, as many of whom count on festive occasions like Deepavali sales to support their yearly income.
“We are speaking on behalf of traders in Little India as well as those on the mainland. In these challenging economic times, we believe this policy offers much-needed support to our local traders.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for implementing it,” he added.
Parthiban shared this during a press conference held at Little India yesterday (July 22), in the presence of MICCI members, a special gathering organised in support of the regulation.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president (MAICCI) Datuk Seri N. Gobalakrishnan said that the policy was introduced more than five years ago after the Penang MICCI raised concerns that traders from outside the state were affecting the incomes of local businesses.
Gobalakrishnan also said that the chamber opposes the participation of foreign traders in such carnivals.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by G.Revatic