Selayang council acts on hawkers outside school compound

KUALA LUMPUR: Six unlicensed street vendors paid a hefty price recently as the goods they were trading outside a primary school compound here were confiscated by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). The operation was carried out by 13 enforcement personnel with three officers from the council’s licensing department. They targeted vendors outside the SK Taman Selasih school gate.

In the one-hour operation carried out during the last period of the school morning session four ice-cream vendors’ motorcycles were hauled away in two council trucks, while two basketful of snacks and canned soft drinks were also confiscated from two traders who were selling them from their car boots.

The council’s licensing department (hawkers management) head Mohd Zikry Zulkifle said the council would not let the traders off with a warning, as they had been notified of the regulation against the selling of snacks and canned beverages to schoolchildren outside the school compound.

“We have been keeping tabs on their activities for the past four months. We have even issued them several warning notices not to sell snacks outside the school gate.

“We have also issued fines to those caught committing the offence. This time around, we decided to confiscate their goods as the notices didn’ t serve as a deterrent,” he said.

Under the Hawkers bylaw (MPS) 2007, those who are caught selling snacks outside school premises will be fined up to RM1,000 and their goods confiscated.

Zikry added the council can also seize vehicles used for the illegal business, as the vendors are operating without a business permit from the council.

He also said the council has requested for budget allocation to erect a warning signboard outside every school in the municipality, prohibiting vendors and petty traders from conducting their business.

KUALA LUMPUR: Six unlicensed street vendors paid a hefty price recently as the goods they were trading outside a primary school compound here were confiscated by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). The operation was carried out by 13 enforcement personnel with three officers from the council’s licensing department. They targeted vendors outside the SK Taman Selasih school gate.

In the one-hour operation carried out during the last period of the school morning session four ice-cream vendors’ motorcycles were hauled away in two council trucks, while two basketful of snacks and canned soft drinks were also confiscated from two traders who were selling them from their car boots.

The council’s licensing department (hawkers management) head Mohd Zikry Zulkifle said the council would not let the traders off with a warning, as they had been notified of the regulation against the selling of snacks and canned beverages to schoolchildren outside the school compound.

“We have been keeping tabs on their activities for the past four months. We have even issued them several warning notices not to sell snacks outside the school gate.

“We have also issued fines to those caught committing the offence. This time around, we decided to confiscate their goods as the notices didn’ t serve as a deterrent,” he said.Under the Hawkers bylaw (MPS) 2007, those who are caught selling snacks outside school premises will be fined up to RM1,000 and their goods confiscated.

Zikry added the council can also seize vehicles used for the illegal business, as the vendors are operating without a business permit from the council.

He also said the council has requested for budget allocation to erect a warning signboard outside every school in the municipality, prohibiting vendors and petty traders from conducting their business.

Source: HALIM SAID
streets@nstp.com.my