KUALA LUMPUR: Bemoaning the lack of action against unlicensed foreign vendors in Little India in Brickfields, an NGO has urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to provide fair treatment to Malaysians wanting to set up shop.
Minda Nambikkai national president Kalai Vanar said many foreigners – mainly from India (Punjab), Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh – have opened stalls, despite not having proper documents.
“DBKL makes the rounds at least 10 times a day here, but no action is taken against the foreigners.
“However, when a local trader opens a stall, DBKL takes strict action. How is this fair?” Kalai said at a press conference today.
He said that based on his inspections over the past two days, more than 200 tables have been set up by foreigners, mainly selling traditional Indian desserts.
Kalai said he had raised this issue with the immigration department in 2020.
“They said that they will work with DBKL and detain these foreigners. But from 2020 until now, I have only seen the number of foreign vendors here increase,” he said.
According to him, the flood of foreign traders threatens the economic and social position of Malaysians.
“Local traders have to apply for a licence when they want to open a stall, which is a long process, but foreigners don’t (have to apply for a licence),” he claimed.