Story by Chan Lilian
COME September, some of the hawkers and traders in the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) area will have to pay a higher rental.
An increase of 20% to 100% will be imposed on the stalls according to zones.
“From our record, the revision of rentals was carried out twice – once in 1967 and the other in 1992. Since 1992, there was no revision so this will be the third time that MPSP is carrying out a revision,” council chief Maimunah Shariff said at a press conference after the MPSP full board meeting on June 28.
Currently, the rental ranges from RM30 to RM120 per month for covered stalls with lock and key.
Over 5,550 hawkers and traders will be affected in this exercise.
“Over the last few years, we have built and upgraded 23 new markets and several hawker complexes. Now, there are better facilities, cleaner toilets, surau, orderly stalls and overall, a nicer ambience for the customers and market goers,”Maimunah said while explaining the reason for the revision.
Some of the hawker complexes and wet markets which will have to bear higher rentals under the Class 1 group are in Kepala Batas, Bagan Ajam, Kg. Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Jaya, Taman Berjaya, Chai Leng Park, Sri Rambai and Samagagah.
Under Class 1, the increase is 100%.
Meanwhile, the Class 4 group will see an increase of 20%, which is as low as RM5. These are hawkers in Bukit Panchor, Taman Pekaka, Seri Delima and Permatang Tinggi.