KOTA KINABALU: If everything goes well, hawkers and small-time traders would benefit from insurance coverage to ease their burden should anything happen to them.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to announce the number of cover policies under the proposed group insurance scheme for hawkers and small-time traders once the proposal gets the green light from the federal cabinet.
“This is a gift from the Prime Minister to the people, especially the hawkers and small-time traders,” said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday.
He said the insurance is given to them for free.
Speaking during a gathering and dialogue session with hawkers and small-time traders here yesterday, he said currently his ministry was collecting the list of hawkers and traders registered throughout the country to facilitate the implementation of the insurance scheme.
“In Peninsular Malaysia, we have no problem as the hawkers and small-time traders are registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), unlike those in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
“We do not want to leave any trader’s or hawker’s name off the list. That is why we want the full list of hawkers and small traders registered in Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and in Peninsular Malaysia before the proposal paper on the scheme is presented to the cabinet for approval,” said Ismail Sabri.
He added the scheme would benefit the hawkers and traders in the event of accidents.
“You can be rest assured that you are insured. Accidents happen, it may cause death or disabilities. The insurance coverage would ease yours or your family members’ burden, help pay hospital fees and so on,” he said.
To date, there are 34 associations of hawkers and small-time traders in Sabah with registered members totalling 1,730.