Traders seek govt's assistance to promote Tanjong Kling SME products
11 Nov 2022 08:56am
Image for illustrative purposes only - BERNAMA
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Business has been bleak for the SMEs since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic some two years ago, even for traders that are operating more than 10 stalls selling traditional food, such as belacan, cencaluk, dodol, gula Melaka, inang-inang (rice crackers), potato chips and various types of biscuits are located along the main road to the village.
The area was developed some 40 years ago for the SMEs, but many have been forced to close shop, leaving only a few still in business and they have all aged.
Johan Ketot, 71, said he did not get much profit selling traditional food, but was still operating to continue with his family business.
"We are just relying on visitors who come for holidays and during weekends to Pantai Puteri and on their way there, they will stop to shop for some local products. The income we get is just enough to cover the expenses and provide some capital to keep the family business alive.
"We hope the government, especially the winner in the contest for the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15), will look into our plight. Most of the traders here are elderly people who have been in business for decades and inherited the business from their parents," he said when met by Bernama here.
He also hoped that the government will make it easier for them to apply for loans to expand their business.
Another trader, Zaipah Surin, 81, expressed similar views and hoped that the government could provide them with a better platform to market their products.
Meanwhile, Don Ahmad, 42, thanked the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) for upgrading their stalls, and hoped that it would also provide some incentives that would help boost their business.
"Most of the SMEs are still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current economic instability is increasingly burdening us...we need assistance to sustain the business,” he added.
The Tangga Batu constituency covers an area of 121 square kilometres and has four state constituencies namely Sungai Udang, Pantai Kundor, Paya Rumput, and Kelebang.
Apart from the Terendak Camp, which is a military camp, the Tangga Batu constituency also houses the Sungai Udang Prison and a Petronas refinery.
There are 115,998 registered electors in the Tangga Batu parliamentary constituency, with 9,621 of them members of the armed forces and the police.
In GE15, the contest for the Tangga Batu seat will witness a five-cornered fight involving the incumbent, Associate Professor Rusnah Aluai of Pakatan Harapan, Lt Col (Rtd) Ghazali Abu (Pejuang), Mohammad Shahril Mahmood (Independent), Bakri Jamaluddin (PN) and Datuk Lim Ban Hong (BN).
Rusnah won the seat in the last general election with a majority of 4.659 votes, defeating Datuk Zali Mat Yasin of BN and Pas’ Zulkifli Ahmad. - BERNAMA
