By Danial Dzulkifly
PUCHONG, Feb 13 — With less than three weeks until the holy month of Ramadan begins, the Selangor government has issued a stern warning for bazaar traders not to engage in unethical practices.
State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said strict action will be taken against so-called “Rambo” traders, those operating without proper permits, and those involved in the “Ali Baba” culture where they resell or lease their licences to others.
“We will not compromise, especially with rogue or Rambo traders who operate without a proper permit. This is to ensure licensed traders who follow the rules are given space to operate without disruption and unfair competition.
“The same goes for those engaged in ‘Ali Baba’ culture. We will conduct constant monitoring and will not hesitate to blacklist those who resell their permits,” he said after a briefing and handover ceremony for Ramadan bazaars under the purview of the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) at its multipurpose hall in Puchong Indah here today.
Najwan cited recent reports alleging Ramadan bazaar lots in Kuala Lumpur were being resold for upwards of RM30,000, which prompted a warning from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that those who resell or lease their permits would have their licences immediately revoked.
Anwar hailed the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s recent decision to revoke the licences of traders found guilty of such practices, and urged other local councils to adopt a similar approach.
[caption id="attachment_389765" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi helps a trader put on a cap included in the Ramadan bazaar kit prepared by the Subang Jaya City Council, at the council’s multipurpose hall in Puchong Indah, on February 13, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Meanwhile, Najwan reminded traders that Ramadan bazaars should be about upholding cleanliness, hygiene, and food quality, not just turning a profit.
“You, as traders, are a special group of people serving fasting Muslims, yet every year, we see people sharing horror stories on social media about food bought at Ramadan bazaars that are either overpriced or of poor quality.
“In the age of social media, traders must be more mindful as everyone is watching. There are serious implications, as people tend to blame the entire bazaar rather than just a single stall.
“This could lead to people avoiding a bazaar entirely, so please, do not take this opportunity for granted,” he said.
Subang Jaya Mayor Datuk Amirul Azizan Abd Rahim, who was also present at the briefing, urged traders to adhere to the terms and conditions of their permits.
He encouraged traders to register for the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme under the Social Security Organisation, and announced a partnership with Agrobank to promote cashless transactions.
MBSJ has allocated 1,367 trading lots across 21 locations in Subang Jaya, Kinrara, Puchong, Putra Heights, and Serdang/Seri Kembangan. While 990 traders have secured permits, the remaining lots are open for appeal.
In Selangor, 15,882 Ramadan bazaar lots will be opened at 244 locations under 12 local authorities this year. The number of bazaar lots managed by each council are as follows:
— Kajang Municipal Council: 2,796
— Selayang Municipal Council: 2,121
— Shah Alam City Council: 2,058
— Klang Royal City Council: 1,369
— Subang Jaya City Council: 1,367
— Petaling Jaya City Council: 1,260
— Kuala Selangor Municipal Council: 936
— Sepang Municipal Council: 894
— Ampang Jaya Municipal Council: 884
— Kuala Langat Municipal Council: 861
— Hulu Selangor Municipal Council: 726
— Sabak Bernam District Council: 610
