THE Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) will set up an e-portal on April 16 to help Ramadan bazaar traders to do their business online.
MBSP mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said this is one option for the traders to continue doing their business as Penang and several states have decided to call off Ramadan bazaar in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had come out with an online platform, called Jom Beli Online or JBO@MBPP, that was launched by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on April 7.
“We did a survey and found that there are hundreds of online portals in the market,” Rozali told a press conference as well as the public through MBSP Facebook live in Komtar today.
“Some traders have told us that they could not afford to register with some existing portals because they need to pay RM300 or RM100. There are also others who charge RM50.
“What MBSP is offering is an e-catalogue focusing on three categories.
“The first category is about the established delivery companies, the second category is about doing their business via Facebook and the third category is doing their business via WhatsApp.
“That will create more opportunities for more people to do more online business. We believe in the principle that no one should be left behind, whether they are big traders or small traders.”
Rozali said all the customers need to do is to click their favourite and arrangements would be made for the food to be delivered to their doorstep.
Also present at the press conference were state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and MBPP secretary Datuk Adnnan Mohd Razali.
Jagdeep said even though Ramadan bazaar is not permitted this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government would want to help the traders continue with their livelihood through online business.
He said the move to go online is to help 1,483 traders at 27 locations in the island and 3,207 traders at 42 locations in Seberang Perai. The fasting during Ramadan is expected to begin on April 24.
“We hope the traders will come on board and we hope we can assist them in that way. It’s an opportunity to encourage e-commerce,” said Jagdeep, adding that so far 112 MBPP traders have signed up with Jom Beli Online (JBO).
Yew said the response was encouraging and Ramadan bazaar traders are welcome to sign up with their JBO.
“We’re aware of the many online platforms in the market. Everybody is free to choose which platform they want. What MBPP is offering is JBO@MBPP where we collaborate with DeliverEat.
“We just use an existing system to help those who are interested to take part. The concept we are promoting is to think great, act great and sharing prosperity.”
On another matter, Jagdeep said both MBPP and MBSP had already disbursed a one-off RM300 payment to all its 1,900 frontline workers in island and 3,091 in the mainland respectively.
He said a one-off RM500 payment had been disbursed to 4,083 out of 6,957 licensed hawkers and small-time traders in the island whereas a total of 2,811 were paid similar amount out of the 7,010 in the mainland.
Jagdeep added that both MBPP and MBSP are in the process of clearing the balance by April 15.
The incentive to them comes under the RM75 million stimulus package that was announced by the chief minister on March 25 to help the vulnerable groups.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian