KUCHING: Hawkers trading illegally at footpaths and car parks within the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) areas of jurisdiction were requested to voluntarily remove their makeshift stalls and immediately cease operation.
MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang said that hawkers’ problems in the council’s area had existed since day one, long before he took office and it was already time that those trading at public places to move to approved designated areas.
“I have been receiving lots of feedback from members of the public through letters and also facebook, asking for us to take control over the matter because they want to see our town orderly and clean,” said Lo.
“Because of that, I am appealing to those hawkers trading outside the designated areas to give their full cooperation, not only to me, but also to the council and members of the general public, by moving out at once,” Lo added.
He said that the council was not asking for too much from the hawkers and there was no reason why they should not be able to comply.
He revealed that the problem of hawkers trading in footpaths and car parks were more rampant in Kota Sentosa, compared with other towns under MPP.
He said this at a news conference at the MPP office in Kota Padawan after chairing their council meeting yesterday.
“So far, many have responded positively when I told them about the need for us to maintain an orderly, clean and healthy environment, but there were still those who have yet to comply and I am appealing to them to cooperate with us,” he said.
“This is because we want to be very fair in dealing with this kind of issues but to enable us to make a fair deal, they need to give us their full cooperation also,” said Lo.
He said that the council did not want to take action against anyone unless inevitable and therefore appealed to the traders to voluntarily comply with directives so as to avoid legal action.
Also present at the news conference yesterday, were deputy chairman Mohd Hashim Yap and council secretary Michael Saweng.