‘Whitening’ programme cleared KL market of migrant traders in 2020: DBKL

KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has taken enforcement action against more than 1,500 migrant traders and workers at the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market between March and December 2020, through what it called a “whitening” programme.

Licensing and business development department director Khairul Anuar Mhd Juri said the action was in line with the conditions set under the Wholesale Market By-Laws (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) 2002.

“DBKL has worked hard to ensure that foreign nationals no longer work at the wholesale market. Perhaps there are still individuals secretly hiring foreigners but sometimes this cannot be prevented.

“But if there are, we will arrest and issue the licence holders a show cause letter. In some cases, their licence have been cancelled,” he said at a news conference after the launching of the book Transformasi Pasar Borong Kuala Lumpur - Menjana Ekonomi Norma Baharu (The Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market’s Transformation - Generating the Economy of the New Norm) here yesterday.

Launched by Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah, the book documents implementations under the new norm at the wholesale market during the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years.

Khairul Anuar said enforcing action against migrant traders and workers had opened up business and employment opportunities for locals affected by the Covid-19 pandemic or who lost their jobs due to it.

“To attract locals to work at the wholesale market, various facilities are provided including hostels and contributions made to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF),” said Khairul Anuar, adding that there were fewer complaints on the matter now following stern enforcement action by DBKL.

Meanwhile, Mahadi in his launching speech said the new norms had resulted in the formation of the New Norm Economy Generating Task Force, besides the “whitening” of migrant workers at this wholesale market and action against employers involved in human trafficking.

“This task force has also managed to educate wholesalers on adherence to the conditions of their licence and carrying out their responsibilities well, to indirectly open opportunities and space for city dwellers who lost their income or have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The various efforts taken have also reduced crime such as vandalism and robbery, besides improving the wholesale market’s surroundings,” he added.

Mahadi said DBKL had also improved the management of the wholesale market and its infrastructure, introduced the wholesaler and worker passes, and installed closed-circuit television cameras at the wholesale market. – Bernama, June 22, 2022