RM1 Million Allocation Offers Hope To Hawkers, Small Traders

KAJANG, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- The government's announcement of a RM1 million allocation for associations, hawkers and small traders has raised hopes among the groups of expanding their businesses, increasing earnings and improving their families' livelihoods.

Nor Hazrin Shima Rahman, 40, who sells beverages and various food items, said the allocation would be significant in helping her purchase equipment and increase her working capital.

Having run the business with her husband for the past 20 years, she said limited capital had often prevented them from pursuing expansion plans, despite strong customer demand.

“There are many ideas we want to implement to increase our income, but a lack of capital has been a major obstacle. We hope to use the allocation to purchase equipment.

“For instance, beverage dispensers need to be replaced periodically to maintain hygiene standards and ensure they remain presentable.

“We also plan to purchase a fresh sugarcane juice extractor for Ramadan bazaars, as well as equipment for preparing fried food,” she told Bernama at a sales booth during the closing of the 2026 National-Level Hawkers and Small Traders Day Carnival (HPPK) here today.

She said she currently operates a mobile business, selling at night markets and farmers' markets around Banting, as well as at various events, where she offers items such as lemang, kebabs and shawarma.

The mother of five, whose children are aged between six and 20, also hoped that relevant agencies and hawker associations would play a more active role in disseminating information about government assistance to ensure it reaches traders who need it.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM1 million allocation to the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), to be coordinated to help associations, hawkers and small traders increase their income.

Meanwhile, Siti Fairuz Ab Karim, an operations manager at a food business, said the assistance could help strengthen Smoksa, a food production enterprise based in Segamat, Johor.

She said the funds could be used to cover various expenses, including premises renovations, machinery upgrades, and operational costs.

The business, which began operations in 2019, has since expanded into the production of commercially marketed frozen food products.

“With additional funding, I hope we will be able to obtain Halal certification for other products, such as popia (spring rolls) and karipap (curry puffs), as the process involves certain costs.

“So far, we have secured Halal certification for three products - smoked meat, smoked chicken and frozen smoked duck,” she said.

Meanwhile, Federation of Malay Hawkers and Small Traders Associations of Malaysia (GPPPKMM) president Datuk Zainal Abidin Abd Majid expressed appreciation to the government, particularly the Prime Minister, for continuing to pay attention to the needs of hawkers and small traders.

On efforts to increase their income, he said the association was working closely with the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department as a strategic partner in distributing equipment to the group.

“We hope the equipment provided will help increase productivity and, in turn, boost traders' income. These are initiatives we will continue to implement nationwide,” he said.

-- BERNAMA