Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has decided to reduce the migrant workforce in the petty trading sector by five to 10 percent.

The move, which will be implemented with immediate effect, will start with public markets in the city, where migrants trade using the licence of locals or work together with local hawkers and traders, said DBKL Socioeconomic Development executive director Ibrahim Yusoff.

Ibrahim said that it was best not to rely on migrants as many local people needed jobs in the petty trading sector, adding that the DBKL move was to help improve the economy of the people and the nation.

He was speaking to reporters at the Sifar Penjaja Warga Asing (Zero Foreign Hawkers) campaign organised by the Federal Territory Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Association (PPPKMWP) in Kuala Lumpur today.

"The Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL have found that there are still many foreigners who are active in trading.

"DBKL has never issued any permission or licences to foreigners and local hawkers are also prohibited from hiring foreign workers,” he said

Ibrahim said any local business operator who was found to employ migrants, as well as those carrying out business under the licence of local residents, would be subjected to legal action including revocation of business licenses and fines.

Their goods would also be seized under the Licensing Of Hawkers (Federal Territory Of Kuala Lumpur) By-laws 2016.

Meanwhile, PPKWW chief Mohamad Abdullah said reducing dependency on migrants would help to strengthen the Malay petty traders sector.

- Bernama