Latest news with #LocalGovernmentandHousingMinistry
Borneo Post
28-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Stop foreign trader invasion in Sabah like in Peninsula - Warisan
A foreigner operating a grocery stall in Sabah. KOTA KINABALU (July 28): The Local Government and Housing Ministry should stop issuing small kampung grocery retail shop licences to foreigners like in the Peninsular Malaysia, said a local politician. Warisan Kg Kapayan Branch leader Pritchard Gumbaris concurs with Federal Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who made it clear that these licences must not be issued to foreigners. 'I strongly agree — and I believe this must not just be an announcement for the Peninsula, but fully enforced here in Sabah as well,' he said. 'Kapayan and Moyog are flooded with foreign traders. Walk through our kampungs and you will see it yourself — local shopkeepers being pushed aside, and outsiders taking over spaces meant for Sabahans. And this is not just a Penampang issue — this same situation is happening across every district in Sabah, with rural and urban communities alike feeling the pressure of uncontrolled foreign retail operations,' he said in a statement on Monday. Pritchard who is also the Political Secretary to Parti Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, said the problem was solved before through a strict and disciplined process during the Warisan Plus government, when they worked hand-in-hand with the Penampang Municipal Council and the district local authorities to curb the mushrooming of foreign-operated shops. 'Every trading licence application in the villages required the village chief's endorsement, and the village chief had to be strict when approving each application — no rubber stamps, no shortcuts. Our office personally vetted every case through interviews, photo checks, and site inspections. I chaired joint meetings with village leaders to scrutinise applications and we were never afraid to reject those found to involve foreigners using local proxies or falsified documents. 'It worked. Foreign-operated small kampung grocery retail shops dropped sharply, and our local entrepreneurs finally had breathing space. 'But today, that hard work has been undone as enforcement has collapsed. The process we built was not maintained, and now foreign traders are mushrooming again,' said Pritchard. He said this is the very reason Warisan has proposed an Ombudsman Committee — an independent body to receive complaints from any whistleblower on corrupt practices, so that accountability starts at the local community level. 'The Sabah Trades Licensing Ordinance 1948 (Sabah Cap. 144), specifically Section 5 and the First Schedule, already outlines the conditions for trading licences — including clear restrictions on foreigners operating businesses in kampungs. The problem is not the absence of law. The problem is the absence of political will to enforce it,' he stressed. Pritchard urged Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam to take this issue seriously. 'It is his ministry's duty to ensure that the state's local councils enforce these rules without fear or favour, and that no loopholes are allowed for foreign operators to abuse. 'If Warisan is given the mandate in Kapayan, we will restore this enforcement system immediately. We will bring back the same tough, proven process — because it worked before, and it will work again. 'Nga Kor Ming has drawn the line. Now it is time for Sabah to follow through — with real action, not empty talk,' he said.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Making houses more affordable
MALAYSIA, through the Local Government and Housing Ministry, will lead the conversation on affordable housing through its chairmanship of Asean in 2025. Ahead of the Asean Summit on May 26-27, we must seriously consider a shift in the way we think about housing affordability in this country. It is important to recognise that when we talk about housing affordability (or in this case, the lack of it), what we are really saying is that either (1) houses are too expensive, or (2) that people are not earning enough, or (3) that both statements are true.
Daily Express
08-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
State rolls out RM5,000 aid for roadside stall operators
Published on: Thursday, May 08, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 08, 2025 Text Size: Joachim with some of the recipients. - Pic by TKM II Media RANAU: A total of 643 roadside stall traders in Sabah have been identified to be eligible for a one-off RM5,000 assistance under the Sabah State Budget 2025. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the list was finalised following thorough verification by a special committee comprising the Local Government and Housing Ministry, the State Finance Ministry and all local authorities. He announced this during the state-level launch of the Untukmu community upgrade aid programme in Kundasang, where 47 traders from Ranau received the cash assistance. Joachim, who is also the Local Government and Housing Minister, said the initiative reflects the state government's concern for small traders facing rising costs, limited capital, and unstable business locations. The event also saw mock cheques handed to local authorities, with phased disbursement to other districts set to follow. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
643 roadside traders in Sabah to receive RM5,000 aid
Deputy Chief Minister and Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam (centre) poses for a photo with some of the RM5,000 one-off aid recipients in Ranau on Monday (May 8). KOTA KINABALU: A one-off RM5,000 assistance will be channelled to 643 eligible roadside traders across Sabah under the 2025 Sabah state Budget, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. He said the list of recipients was finalised following a thorough verification process by a special committee comprising the state Local Government and Housing Ministry (KKTP), state Finance Ministry, and all local authorities. 'Ground-level surveys were conducted in every district to gather data on roadside traders. Based on the established criteria, 643 individuals have been identified as eligible for this assistance,' said Dr Gunsalam, who is also the state Local Government and Housing Minister. Of this total, 47 recipients from Ranau received their aid during the state-level kick-off of the UNTUKMU (Upgrading Assistance for the Community and General Public) programme held at Pentas Budaya Kundasang on Thursday (May 8). He said the initiative reflects the state government's concern for small traders, many of whom face challenges such as rising operating costs, limited capital, and unstable business locations. 'Small traders are key drivers of the microeconomy, providing essential services to local communities. I hope this assistance helps them purchase equipment, boost capital, or grow their businesses,' he added. Also present were KKTP Deputy Permanent Secretary II Faridah Giau, Ranau district officer Tinus Manggam, Penampang Municipal Council president Francis Chong, and representatives of elected officials and community leaders.
