SUBANG JAYA: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has approved 7,243 kiosk units across 133 local authorities nationwide over the span of two years.
Its minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the programme not only helps increase the entrepreneurs' income but also offers highly affordable kiosk rental rates, which are free for the first six months and no more than RM300 per month thereafter.
"In just two years, this initiative has successfully transformed the lives of 7,243 families, benefiting over 35,000 children in Malaysia.
"The heads of these 7,243 households have benefited from incentives, including six months of free rental, followed by a maximum rental of just RM10 per day," he said after launching MyKiosk 2.0 at the Niaga Roundabout, Putra Heights, here today.
Also present were the ministry's secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib and Subang Jaya City Council mayor Datuk Amirul Azizan Abd Rahim.
Nga said the programme provides small entrepreneurs with an opportunity to run their businesses legally, as well as relocating them to more strategic locations.
This, he said, is aimed at increasing their earnings and improving the overall revenue of small traders, many of whom may eventually rise into higher-income groups after joining this initiative.
"I firmly believe that with determination, where there is a will, there is a way, and the government is ready to assist (the traders)," he said.
In the past two years, Nga said the ministry has already spent RM150 million, with 3,159 units deployed last year.
He said this year, with the launch of MyKiosk 2.0, an additional 4,054 units have been deployed, at a cost of RM25,000 each, with an additional RM100 million allocated for the project.
"MyKiosk 2.0 comes with improved features. Previously, we used small batteries, but now we use 1,000-watt solar batteries, which can now last eight hours, providing enough energy for traders.
"These kiosks are fully solar-powered, with LED lights and fans that don't use electricity but are all powered by solar energy," he said.
The minister said the government is opening up opportunities for all to apply for these kiosks, and the collaboration between local authorities, federal, and state governments is important in ensuring the programme's success.
"We prioritise the B40 group first... because we want to use the MyKiosk initiative to change their lives.
"I'm not going to give these kiosks to the Yang Berhormat Tan Sri or Datuk Seri, what's the point? Our priority is to help B40 families so that they can use this opportunity to become M40 or even T20. That is our objective.
"Because this is the Prime Minister's vision, to eliminate extreme poverty in urban areas, and through MyKiosk, we have successfully eradicated extreme poverty," he said.