Port Dickson: Local traders refuted claims circulating on social media that the Batu 4 night market here is overrun with foreign traders taking advantage by operating illegally.
However, local traders at the market said the allegations were misleading.
One trader, who refused to be named, said he has been trading at the Batu 4 night market for more than 10 years and had never heard of foreign nationals being allowed to trade there.
"Perhaps these allegations are directed at traders who have already obtained permanent resident status in this country. These individuals have acquired citizenship and have lived here for decades.
"A few weeks ago, there was a foreign trader (Bangladeshi) selling fish, but the local authorities quickly took action after receiving our complaints," he said yesterday.
Another trader, Shukor, 57, who has been trading there for 12 years said only registered members were allowed to trade there.
"Perhaps due to the viral video, the local authorities conducted an inspection on all the traders recently.
"Some traders were fined for not having or having expired business licences," he said.
He said based on the viral information, it was alleged that Indonesian traders monopolised the night market stalls.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact the organiser of the Batu 4 night market were unsuccessful, as traders indicated that the organiser was the Port Dickson Municipal Council itself.
Municipal council president Hasnor Abd Hamid refused to comment. However, she acknowledged the matter had gone viral on social media.