20/06/2026

SATURDAY | JUNE 20, 2026

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Concern over migrants using loopholes to run businesses o Foreigners allegedly bypassing rules via marriages, partnerships with locals

RM200 million for hawker stall revamp KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall has earmarked RM200 million to modernise and overhaul hawker stalls at 287 sites throughout the capital under its latest Lestari Niaga @ Kuala Lumpur 2026 initiative. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the large-scale initiative would benefit over 11,000 small traders and hawkers, ensuring they operate in a safer, more organised and conducive environment. She added that the council adopts a fair approach by considering the voices of all stakeholders, including residents, traders and building tenants, when implementing relocation and upgrading programmes for hawker areas. “This year, we will roll out the programme across multiple locations. “On the issue of relocating small traders, the council must balance a range of perspectives, including residents who demand smooth traffic flow, the traders themselves and building tenants looking to run their businesses. “We must ensure fairness to everyone involved, as each group has its own views on the most suitable locations,” she told reporters yesterday after inspecting hawker stall upgrades near UTC Sentul. Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud and Batu MP P. Prabakaran also attended the event. On the recent UTC Sentul hawker upgrade project, Yeoh said the council had hosted stakeholder engagement sessions and had shaped its redevelopment plans based on the feedback received. Emphasising that the redevelopment work launched on June 15 does not aim to drive out traders, she said the RM1.6 million initiative would replace existing structures with 20 modern modular kiosks slated for completion within three months, just before October. Meanwhile, Fadlun said to ease the financial burden on the 20 active traders affected during the construction period, the council is introducing a first-ever special monthly financial assistance of RM1,500. Yeoh said providing direct financial assistance is far more efficient than setting up temporary trading sites, adding that such sites are often costly and poorly located, which ultimately reduces customer turnout. Fadlun said similar simultaneous projects backed by the special incentive are set to expand to locations such as Jalan Dato Senu, Pudu Ulu and Bandar Tun Razak. Regarding the Lestari Niaga programme, he added that the funding would involve various categories of hawkers under the council’s supervision in stages. “In total, the initiative covers 287 sites and impacts about 11,000 business owners. “Our immediate focus for the initial phase will be on 224 locations, encompassing a wide range of hawker setups. “Of the total, over 4,000 are street hawkers, while another 5,000 operate under the mayor’s assets and the remaining balance of about 1,000 involves those in the reapplication category,” Yeoh said. – Bernama

He also said the council views seriously the involvement of local individuals who assist or facilitate such activities, adding that action may be taken under existing laws and licensing conditions. Wan Zulkifli advised the public to exercise caution before allowing their names or business licences to be used by others, adding that they could be exposed to liabilities, including compounds, tax obligations and legal action if conditions are breached. He also called on the government to intensify monitoring efforts and strengthen cooperation between enforcement agencies and the business community to curb such practices. Last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminded Rohingya refugees in Malaysia to comply with local laws and regulations or face strict action. He was reported as saying while Malaysia adopts a humanitarian approach, refugees remain subject to the country’s legal framework, including regulations governing the use of premises and business operations.

from members, especially restaurant and retail operators, who claim they are facing unequal competition from foreigners who do not comply with licensing and taxation requirements. “There are also cases in which foreigners are alleged to be using licences belonging to locals, including through business partnerships or marriages with local women, allowing businesses to operate under the name of a local spouse or partner,” he told Bernama. Meanwhile, the Ketereh Islamic Municipal District Council detected 21 cases of misuse of visas or visit passes to conduct business activities over the past three years. Its secretary Mohd Azman Ghazali said between January and May, the local authority conducted three enforcement operations, issued 21 compounds and ordered the closure of three premises for violating business regulations. He added that sectors most frequently detected involving foreigners included retail, hawker operations, food and beverage outlets, construction and alms-collecting activities in public areas.

KOTA BHARU: Cases involving foreigners allegedly using marriages and business partnerships with Malaysians as channels to operate businesses under the names of locals have been highlighted by the Kelantan Malay Malaysian Chamber of Commerce. Its president Wan Zulkifli Wan Abdullah said the issue was among the complaints received from members, particularly those in the retail and food and beverage sectors, who claim to be facing unfair competition. He added that certain foreigners are alleged to be operating businesses under the names of local spouses or business partners to continue business operations without facing certain regulatory constraints. “We have received numerous complaints

RTD detects locals renting vehicles to non-M’sians SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Road Transport Department (RTD) has detected locals renting or allowing foreigners to drive their vehicles without valid licences through the Foreign Drivers Operation conducted since the start of this year. Its deputy director Datuk Ahmad

Kamarunzaman Mehat said the matter came to light when vehicle owners claimed their impounded vehicles and the cases were brought to court. He added that the issue was also detected during a three-day operation that began on Tuesday in Balakong, Puchong, Petaling Jaya and Persiaran Hamzah Alang, carried out in collaboration with the Selangor Immigration Department and local authorities, including the Subang Jaya City Council and Petaling Jaya City Council. “Vehicle owners and foreign drivers must pay the fines decided by the court before the vehicles can be released from the RTD impound depot. If they fail to pay, the vehicles cannot be claimed,”he told reporters at an Ops PEWA press conference at the Selangor RTD headquarters in Jalan Padang Jawa on Thursday. He also said action was taken against 304 vehicles, comprising 125 motorcycles, 90 private vehicles, 74 goods vehicles and 15 public service vehicles. Ahmad Kamarunzaman said action was taken against 239 foreign drivers, with Myanmar nationals accounting for the highest number at 50, followed by Bangladesh (46), Indonesia (44), India (10) and other countries (89). He said the operation also recorded 734 offences, adding that the highest was driving without a Competent Driving Licence at 268 cases, followed by driving without a motor vehicle licence (207 cases), lack of insurance coverage

Ahmad Kamarunzaman said the department also found some vehicles used by foreigners were poorly maintained, including bald tyres and malfunctioning brakes, posing a safety risk to other road users. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

the Road Transport Act 1987, registered owners are held responsible for any offences committed by drivers operating their vehicles, including foreigners. He added that under Section 64 of the same Act, RTD has the authority to impound vehicles if the foreign driver does not possess a valid driving licence. He said for transport companies employing unauthorised drivers, actions such as the suspension or revocation of permits may be taken under the Land Public Transport Act 2010. – Bernama

(178 cases), driving without a Goods Driving Licence (77 cases) and operating without a Public Service Vehicle licence (four cases). He also said a total of 95 vehicles were impounded, comprising 61 motorcycles, 23 goods vehicles, nine private vehicles and two public service vehicles. Ahmad Kamarunzaman said the department also found some vehicles used by foreigners were poorly maintained, including bald tyres and malfunctioning brakes, risking other road users. He warned vehicle owners, employers and transport companies that under Section 109 of

Sabah govt planning to upgrade wildlife park JOHOR BAHRU: The Sabah government plans to upgrade the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Putatan, with the Johor Zoo serving as one of the key development models for the project. for a long time. We have a wide range of animals for visitors to see, including about 16 elephants undergoing rehabilitation and on display for tourists.

materialise and eventually position it as one of the country’s leading zoo attractions for tourists. Earlier, Jafry said his visit to the Johor Zoo was aimed at observing its development and gaining first-hand insight into its operations. The Johor Zoo, which opened in 1928, was closed in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently underwent upgrading works before reopening on Aug 31, 2024. – Bernama

Johor Zoo, including its Night Zoo programme, could be adapted for implementation. “I find that the Johor Zoo offers excellent accessibility for the public, especially families. It is an ideal place for leisure visits and educational activities that help foster greater appreciation and love for animals among the public.” He expressed hope that plans to upgrade the wildlife park, which opened in 2007, would

“However, the infrastructure and facilities need to be improved,” he told Bernama after visiting the Johor Zoo on Thursday. He added that the facilities, visitor-friendly environment and attractions available at the

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said an estimated RM50 million would be required to improve the ageing wildlife park and its facilities. “The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park has been around