Foreigners penalised for illegally running stalls in JB Ramadan bazaars

THREE foreigners had their wares and equipment seized for operating illegally in two Ramadan bazaars, says the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB).

Its mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said the foreigners, who were from Yemen, Bangladesh and Indonesia, were found to be operating stalls during checks by enforcement officers.

“We have been conducting regular checks at Ramadan bazaars since the first day of the fasting month to keep an eye on the matter.

“Initially, the focus was to advise Ramadan bazaar organisers against allowing foreigners to operate stalls.

“However, further checks found that there are still foreigners doing business in some bazaars. As such, we have taken stern actions against these traders by seizing their items,” he said.

The traders involved were operating stalls at bazaars in Bandar Baru Uda and Taman Anggerik, he told reporters after the MBJB full council meeting on Wednesday (March 27).

He had been asked if the council had found any foreigners operating stalls in the 3,000-plus Ramadan bazaars under its jurisdiction.

On March 12, Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said local councils would be on the lookout for foreigners illegally operating stalls in Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars.

“All 16 local councils in Johor will buck up their enforcement to address this issue and stern action will be taken against those involved,” he said, adding that local councils have never given licences to foreigners to run businesses.

On another matter, Mohd Noorazam said MBJB also issued some RM7,750 worth of compound notices to traders for failing to take typhoid shots.

“Following checks on Ramadan bazaars, we issued a total of 31 notices to traders who did not take the shots.

“I would like to remind traders once again to ensure that those handling food, including their workers, have taken the typhoid shots. This is the main condition for any food business.

“Failure to take the shot could lead to the spread of diseases such as typhoid fever. I urge them to be responsible and do the necessary to avoid the spread of disease,” he said.