MBKT Compounds 23 Illegal Premises Operated By Foreigners

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 9 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) has issued compounds against 23 unlicensed business premises operated by foreigners from January this year to date. 

State Local Government, Housing and Health Committee chairman Datuk Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah said all the premises, including 18 car wash centres and five retail premises, were found to be operating without a valid license issued by the local authority (PBT).

“MBKT has carried out enforcement operations on unlicensed business premises operated by foreigners.

“A compound of RM1,000 has been imposed for each offence under By-Law (UUK) 3(1) of the MBKT for conducting business without a valid license,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Wan Sukairi, who supported Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement yesterday, said the issue of visa abuse by foreigners to conduct business was a serious violation of the law and could not be compromised.

“The matter affects the local economy and also creates unhealthy competition for local traders who pay licences and taxes obediently.

“Security and sovereignty issues can also arise from these unlicensed businesses on social problems and public order in the local area,” he said.

Yesterday, Anwar expressed concern over the influx of foreigners abusing visitor and student visas to run businesses in the country.

The Prime Minister said the government was aware of the threat posed by a handful of foreigners who entered the country using visitor or tourist visas, but carried out business activities including in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MEMS) sector.

Commenting further, Wan Sukairi also warned any local traders who leased out business licenses to foreigners that they would have their licenses revoked.

Meanwhile, MBKT mayor Lizan Che Mat said his party had never issued any business licenses to foreigners and stressed that monitoring and enforcement would continue to ensure that there was no misuse of business licenses.

Apart from that, Lizan said MBKT seized three retail business premises operated by foreigners during an enforcement operation at a business lot near the MBKT Bus Terminal, here today.

He said the inspection found that the three premises were operating without a valid business license, thus violating regulations under By-Law 3(1), MBKT Trade, Business and Industrial Licensing Law 2013.

Following that, he said, all the equipment and sales items seized were taken to the MBKT Enforcement and Parking Services Division Confiscation Store in Chendering near here for further action.

"The operation was carried out from 11 am to 1.30 pm today around the MBKT Bus Terminal following complaints from the public. The seizure was carried out in accordance with the provisions of By-Law 38, the Trade, Business and Industrial Licensing (MBKT) By-Law 2013.

"Investigations found that the premises were registered in the name of locals, but the daily operations were handled by foreign workers," he said when contacted today.

-- BERNAMA