Selangor Pas Youth calls for 30 to 50 per cent rental reduction to support struggling hawkers, small traders

SHAH ALAM - Selangor Pas Youth has urged the state government to take immediate action to ease the financial burden faced by hawkers and small traders by reducing rental rates for business premises owned by local authorities and state-linked agencies, including hawker sites, kiosks and markets.

The call comes amid concerns that many small businesses are struggling with rising living costs, weakening consumer spending and persistently high operating expenses, which have placed increasing pressure on their ability to sustain operations.

Its chief, Mohamed Sukri Omar, said the proposal covers hawker sites, stalls, kiosks, public market spaces and other small business premises operated under local councils, the Selangor State Development Corporation and entities supervised by the state government.

Sukri said the call follows increasing complaints from traders who are facing mounting economic challenges amid declining income and rising costs.

“In recent times, I have received various complaints and grievances from hawkers and small traders across Selangor who are increasingly burdened by declining income as public spending weakens, daily living costs continue to rise, while rental rates remain high and oppressive.

“In the face of these challenging economic conditions, many small traders are forced to survive on extremely narrow profit margins,” he told Sinar Daily.

He emphasised that hawkers and small traders represent an important segment of the local economy, yet they often lack strong financial resilience.

Their businesses are primarily a means of sustaining their livelihoods, supporting their families, paying employees and contributing to the broader movement of the local economy, rather than generating high incomes.

Given this reality, Selangor Pas Youth stressed that if the state government is serious about assisting the people, such commitment should be reflected in policies that deliver direct and tangible relief to ordinary people.

Sukri believes that reducing rental rates would provide meaningful support for traders who continue to face prolonged economic pressure.

“Selangor Pas Youth believes the time has come for the Selangor State Government to take bolder and more comprehensive action by reducing rental rates for hawker sites and small business premises under local authorities, PKNS and all related state government agencies.

“This is a realistic, humane, and urgently needed measure to provide breathing space for small traders who are struggling under prolonged economic pressure,” he said.

Among the proposals put forward by Selangor Youth Pas:

To implement a rental reduction of at least 30 to 50 per cent for hawker sites and small business premises owned by local authorities, PKNS and related state government agencies.

Set a reasonable implementation period so that traders can experience meaningful relief, rather than receiving merely temporary or cosmetic assistance.

Provide a mechanism for restructuring or waiving rental arrears for traders who have been genuinely affected.

Conduct immediate engagement with hawkers’ associations, representatives of small traders and relevant stakeholders so that any policy introduced truly reflects the realities on the ground.

According to him, government effectiveness should be measured through tangible action rather than statements alone.

“In a difficult economic climate, the true measure of a government’s effectiveness is not the number of statements it issues, but the courage it shows in making decisions that genuinely reduce the people’s burden.

“The state government cannot continue speaking about public welfare while failing to translate those words into concrete action,” he mentioned.

He emphasised that hawkers and small traders are a vital part of the grassroots economy and require prompt policy attention to prevent the challenges they face from worsening.