Upgrading of food stalls to be completed this week

KOTA KINABALU: The upgrading works of Anjung Selera Tanjung Lipat here will be completed by this week, said Deputy Secretary General (Domestic Trade) of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry, Datuk Mohd Arif Abd Rahman.

Hajiji (left) leading the beach cleaning activity before launching the 1Malaysia Hawker programme at Anjung Selera, Likas.

Speaking at the 1Malaysia Hawker (PP1M) programme at Anjung Selera, he said RM275,000 had been channeled by the ministry to upgrade the food stalls in the area.

“The upgrading works started in early March when the buildings were painted, and floor and roof repaired. Standardizing of the signages, clearing and cleaning of drains and upgrading the toilet currently being undertaken are almost completed.

“PP1M is one of the government’s initiatives through its National Blue Ocean Strategy 7, where it seeks for an effective mechanism to upgrade the status of hawkers and petty traders in the country,” he said at the event.

Mohd Arif added under the PP1M, the government had also set aside RM7 million allocation to improve the physical appearance of business premises.

He said the money would be used to beautify, clean and enhance business premises, to transform shopping carts to be more uniform and attractive to consumers.

Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, who is also the chairman of the Sabah Federal Small Traders Consultative Council, officiated at the event.

Hajiji urged hawkers and petty traders in the State to register with the local authorities to enjoy an insurance scheme under the 1Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders National Insurance Plan (Pimpin).

He said out of an estimated 1.5 million hawkers and petty traders in Malaysia enjoying the insurance scheme since its introduction in January this year, only 1,228 were from Sabah.

“We have more than 10,000 hawkers and petty traders in the State, and I hope they will register as soon as possible in order to enjoy the various benefits provided by the government.

“Apart from Pimpin, the government has also provided RM50 million worth of grants to hawkers and petty traders under 1Malaysia Hawkers Programme (PP1M) to help small traders improve their business operations, quality of service and increase profits,” he said.

He also encouraged hawkers and petty traders to register with relevant associations, share their experience and build networks to learn more about expanding business from experienced traders.

Also present yesterday were Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid and Sedcovest Holdings Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Awang Sham Amit.

Earlier, at the event, Hajiji led the hawkers and petty traders of Anjung Selera on a beach cleaning activity at the foodstalls area.