LETTER | Stop forever bullying our humble hawkers

LETTER | Far too often we read of news about local councils and authorities issuing eviction notices and subsequently bulldozing hawker stalls in and around the country.

The latest incident of a forced eviction notice issued to hawkers in Petaling Jaya deserves re-appraisal by the government of the day.

Taman Medan hawkers are seeking a High Court order to stop Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) from demolishing their 30-year-old premises.

Indeed, this trend to demolish and unfairly relocate or not even compensate with compassion is characteristic of our authorities.

Our humble hawker stalls cannot forever be the victims in the name of developments - be it drainage, road widening, or worst, in defence of future, lucrative property developments.

We need to appreciate the social, cultural and racial integration that hawker stalls, approved for decades, offer to local communities.

Most of the hawkers are not even in the M40 social strata. They sincerely make a living while offering the poor and rich customers immense, unfailing opportunities to buy food at reasonable, affordable costs.

Integral role

We never hear of huge, mega structures and commercial properties being demolished in the name of national development.

It is always the poor and the lower social strata of citizens who have to give way.

Why?

Do we not value the fact that hawkers, too, play an integral role in the economic engine of the nation?

Do we not want to give our humble hawkers a fair chance to be economically independent?

Do we not realise that these hawkers are feeding and raising families with their children even graduating from private institutions of learning, who in return feed the nation's need for qualified human capital?

Above all, do we not want to let hawking to thrive - a means to social integration and definitely a proven melting pot for our multiracial communities?

It is high time for local authorities to think outside the box for solutions.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.