CONCERNED about the plight of petty traders facing economic uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bagan Dalam service centre has conducted a special programme to assist them to get a licence to operate their businesses.
The programme, which is known as ‘Program Perancakkan Ekonomi Tempatan Peniaga Kecil Butterworth’, was held at Butterworth Digital Library today.
A total of 25 petty traders from Butterworth and nearby areas joined in the half-day programme.
Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy said they had to limit the number of participants in order to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the programme was important because many petty traders nowadays did not know the correct way to apply for an operating licence.
“So, our objective is that we want to make it easier for them to apply for a licence.
“Through this programme, they are put into a three-hour food-handling course and after that, all of them get their typhoid vaccination, which is part of the requirements to get the licence from the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).
“The course was provided by a training school recognised by the Health Ministry while typhoid vaccination was conducted by a local health clinic. The costs for both are fully borne by my service centre.
“They just need to pay RM30 when they submit the application form to MBSP, which takes about two weeks to process.
“So once they get their licences, they can trade legally without worrying about any action from the authority,” he told reporters after officiating the programme today.
Satees said for those who missed the chance to join the programme and urgently need a licence, they can come to his service centre to be assisted on that matter.
“We will try our best to help them,” he added.
He also said they planned to organise such programme twice a year starting from next year.
“Hopefully, this will help more petty traders in Butterworth and nearby areas to get their licences and later on to spur the local economy here,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis