KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Associations plans to launch its Ramadan e-bazaar mobile app next week.
The group’s Young Traders Bureau chief, Mohd Nadzri Kamarulzaman, said the app would allow traders to run their businesses online during the fasting month.
“Traders and customers can register with the app by next week.
“It will be a user-friendly system even for those who are not tech-savvy. We allow cash-on-delivery payments for those who are not familiar with online payment.”
Nadzri said the food delivery service would be similar to the ones offered by e-hailing companies, but likely at an affordable rate.
“There were plans to collaborate with e-hailing delivery services, but we realise (there would be) additional costs.
“The charges would force the hawkers and traders to increase their prices.
“So we had to find alternatives, with the target to impose only between 10 per cent and 15 per cent service charge to benefit traders, hawkers and customers,” he said.
He said the app would require users to key in their identification number, phone number and it would list out shops only within a 10km radius.
The app would help traders to coordinate their orders better than using social media platforms.
“This will not only help customers filter out the nearest traders, but also maintain adherence to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“While most traders are using social media to offer delivery services, they might sometimes overlook the order.
“So the app is a better tool to help them manage a high number of orders.”
The group’s secretary-general, Mohamed Zamri Mohammed, said the app could host about 100,000 traders and hawkers.
Zamri said some states were providing e-bazaar alternatives for traders and hawkers.
“We welcome the move as most states have an allocation for alternatives to help out traders and hawkers during the fasting month.”
However, the Federal Territories Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Association expressed concern about a possible drawback of e-bazaars.
Its president, Datuk Mohamad Abdullah, said the association’s 5,000 members were mostly over 50 and might not be adept at managing online businesses.
He said online businesses were more suitable for those in the M40 group, but not B40.
“They are all hardcore traders over 50. How can we expect them to shift to e-bazaars to make up for their loss of income?
“It is difficult for seasoned, traditional traders to switch to online businesses.
“They are not even sure if there will be customers if they shift platforms.”
While the traders would comply with the MCO, the fear of losing income was worrying.
“There are five main organisers registered under City Hall with 5,000 traders who have been allocated lots in Jalan Kuching, Wangsa Maju Sentul, Kampung Baru, Jalan Raja Bot and many more.
“We are used to meeting customers face to face. You won’t get that same feeling doing business through an app.”
Mohamad urged the government to provide additional aid to hawkers and petty traders.
“They will be out of income for months due to the MCO and cancellation of the bazaar.
“A little help for these petty traders would be useful for them, especially those who may have pre-ordered the supplies and paid for it.”