September 2012 | last updated at 08:31AM
Petty traders hoping for more
By HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN | [email protected]
IMPROVEMENTS SOUGHT: Government urged to focus more on group to improve socio-economic development
Petty traders are asking for help from the government. For years, such traders in Malaysia have remained small-time traders because they do not have the means and ways of growing their businesses.
KUALA LUMPUR: PETTY traders and hawkers hope to see significant allocations made for them in the 2013 Budget.
Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council chairman Datuk Jamal Md Yunus urged the government to shift its focus to this group to improve their socio-economic development.
"There is a vast number of small-time traders trying to develop their businesses."
Jamal admitted that the government had made some effort in helping small business owners, especially when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced in July that there would be insurance coverage should anything happen to them.
"(However), the government should also look into giving these traders substantial amounts of money according to their requirements to enable them to build and expand their businesses.
"For years, small traders in our country have remained petty traders because they do not have the means and ways of growing their businesses."
Jamal said he hoped the budget would provide petty traders and hawkers some form of finance and training on business development.
Echoing similar sentiments, Small- and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah said the government should provide financial aid in the form of grants to traders.
"The government should make grants and loans easier through various banks so that these traders will not have to resort to moneylenders for help. "It's widely known that many businessmen have had resorted to moneylenders in times of desperation to obtain funds to save their businesses."
Ridzuan said blacklisted traders from previous businesses should also be given a second opportunity to build a new business.
"This will encourage them to strive harder and succeed in their endeavours."
Ponammah Thoraisamy, a 61-year-old who has been selling garlands and flowers for 15 years, said she hoped the government would set up more designated business sites for people like her.
"There are many traders like me who still do not have a proper place to operate our businesses and I hope the government will also consider this in the budget."
Provision shop owner Nuramirah Hassan said she hoped bank loan application processes would be made easier and more lenient.
"There should also be assistance for applicants who cannot read and write to enable them to understand the terms and conditions of the loan."
