PENAMPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has asked for local authorities nationwide to focus on urban development starting with clean and beautiful stalls and kiosks.
He said that this emphasis aligns with the popularity of stalls and kiosks as primary locations that attract the public more than restaurants or hotels in any given area.
Anwar added that facilities for small traders and business owners should be prioritised before implementing major development projects in their respective local authority areas.
"The emphasis on city development should start with stalls and kiosks. Ensure that stalls and kiosks are well-managed before considering larger projects," he said during the inauguration of the National Hawkers and Small Traders Carnival 2023 at Buhavan Square, Donggongon, here today.
Present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Anwar stated that his administration, the Madani government, also gives priority to the preservation of historical buildings such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to make the capital a heritage city.
He added that mega-projects undertaken in the capital and other cities in all states should not compromise their historical value.
Instead, development plans should be well-designed for the comfort and well-being of the people.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stated that the government agreed to allocate the RM20 million approved in the 2024 Budget for the Tamu Desa project for the provision and upgrading of entrepreneurial kiosk facilities to the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry.
He added that RM1 million of that allocation would be given to the Small Traders and Business Owners Association (KUSKOP) to fund the management of the association.
Earlier, Ewon requested that KUSKOP be entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the allocation, hoping that the same allocation would be provided to the ministry in each year's budget.
He stated that the disbursement of the allocation would enable KUSKOP to help fulfil the hopes and dreams of the small traders and business owners community in need of credit capital and kiosk facilities from the ministry.
He added that this year, KUSKOP introduced initiatives such as the Strategic Plan for the Development of Hawkers and Small Traders, the Informal Entrepreneur Performance Plan, and Business Guidelines from Home to enhance the competitiveness of the hawker and small business community.
"Additionally, KUSKOP has reactivated the National Hawkers and Small Traders Consultative Council as a collaborative platform between the government and this community (hawkers and small traders)," he said.
