By Mustakim Ramli
SUBANG JAYA, Sept 8 — More than 8,300 temporary licenses were issued by local authorities (PBT) throughout Selangor since the Covid-19 pandemic hit last year.
State executive councillor for local government Ng Sze Han said the figure are from licenses approved between August last year to August this year.
“The state government is very concerned about the economic situation faced by the people during this challenging Covid-19 time, as the country’s unemployment rate has increased to 750,000 people.
“Of that number, 4.4 per cent (33,000 people) are in Selangor. To ease their burden, the Selangor government through the local authorities has issued more than 8,300 temporary licenses,” he said yesterday.
He said this after giving temporary licenses to 120 traders in Taman Puncak Jalil here.
Ng said this initiative allows the recipients to operate legally until the end of the year.
“Among the conditions for them to qualify for this license is; to be fully vaccinated, Malaysian citizens, and aside from that, we require their business site to be in a safe and clean area,” he said.
He said the state government has also exempted payments for hawker licenses which have benefitted 71,800 hawkers.
“Selangor has implemented this since 2016, involving a financial implication of more than RM54 million during the five-year period,” he said.
Beginning in August last year, starting with the Shah Alam City Council, local authorities in Selangor had issued temporary permits to unlicensed traders, especially those from the low-income group (B40) who were affected by Covid-19.
Local authorities need to ensure that the business sites are suitable, ensure it is safe and do not cause disturbances.
