Sibu Municipal Council takes action against unlicensed hawkers amid public complaints

SIBU (Feb 25): Illegal hawkers will not be allowed to continue operating in the Permai area, particularly along Lorong Ulu Oya 11B, until a proper and legal solution is identified.

Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting said the council is sympathetic towards the hawkers’ livelihood concerns but cannot permit illegal trading, especially in areas where no designated space is available.

“SMC is very concerned. We try to help the hawkers and we are sympathetic towards them, but the problem is that we have no proper place to relocate them,” he told reporters after the SMC Full Council Meeting at Wisma Sanyan here.

The issue has drawn complaints from the public and legal shophouse tenants, who claim that unlicensed food and beverage vendors are causing traffic congestion during peak hours and affecting their businesses.

Licensed operators, Ting noted, are required to comply with council regulations and may face summonses if they encroach beyond permitted boundaries such as the five-foot way, while illegal hawkers operate without such obligations.

“I agree with the concerns raised. Those who operate legally have responsibilities to the public and pay for licences. We cannot allow people without licences to operate, especially when health issues may arise,” he said.

Ting stressed that the council’s difficulty in making a firm relocation decision stems from the lack of suitable land.

Allowing hawkers to continue operating in cramped areas could worsen congestion and pose safety risks, he added.

He said elected representatives could work with the Land and Survey Department to identify suitable state land for a proper hawker centre.

“To work for the people is not wrong, but it must be legal — to protect SMC, the operators and ultimately the public,” he said.

On a separate matter, Ting said the public swimming pool at Bukit Lima here is currently undergoing minor repairs after being handed over to SMC by the Sarawak State Sports Council (SSC) on Jan 27.

The facility is temporarily closed due to safety concerns, including cracked floor tiles that could injure users.

“We are worried children may cut their feet, so repairs are necessary.

“We only took over the facility last month and are working to resolve the issues,” he said, adding that staffing and a proper management structure must be finalised before reopening.

The pool is expected to be used for training purposes, with a letter of undertaking to the Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (SASA) currently being prepared.

In another development, Ting said SMC would look into reports of a sinking hole at Lorong Ulu Oya 11B in Permai.