Dr Hazland (seated centre) together with Kartini (seated second right), Andrew (seated second left), Adeyong (seated far right), sevaral village heads and hawkers from the Sejingkat area.
KUCHING: Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni recently called for a compromise between Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) and hawkers who populate the roadsides of the Sejingkat area.
In a dialogue held at Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Dr Hazland said that both parties must understand the other side’s concerns and position.
“The hawkers must understand that DBKU has by-laws on what they are doing, while DBKU must understand that some of the hawkers are true entrepreneurs who have been making their living there for as long as 10 years,” he said.
Around 13 hawkers have dug in their heels about moving to the new market which will be set up near Twintech College Sarawak by Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama).
The affected hawkers are currently unlicensed.
“We are trying to advise them nicely to do business in a proper manner. They can join FAMA’s market and be licensed. They will be provided proper stalls and are eligible to apply for government loans or grants,” said Dr Hazland.
DBKU principal deputy director Kartini Zamhari has agreed to look into the hawkers’ request to be allowed to run their business between 6am to 9am.
“We want to study the situation between that time frame to make sure traffic is not affected, safety and whatever factors under our jurisdiction is not compromised. If anything happens, we will be held legally responsible,” she said.
According to Dr Hazland, there will be another dialoque session between DBKU and the hawkers on a later date.
Also present were Deputy Director of Administrative Control Services Department Andrew Joris Noyen, and Fama assistant director Adeyong Tomick.