KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has revoked 26,108 business licenses for violations of licensing conditions or provisions set by local councils since 2022.
These include 384 licences which were "leased" illegally to foreigners.
The ministry, in a statement, said it had conducted 1,836 enforcement operations on business premises involving foreigners were conducted.
It said its minister, Nga Kor Ming, had said the ministry had established constructive and active cooperation with other ministries to comprehensively enforce actions related to this issue.
"Integrated cooperation with the whole-of-government approach alongside other enforcement agencies such as the Immigration Department and the police is needed to address this increasingly prevalent issue based on the constraints of local councils' jurisdiction, which is limited to inspecting premises and business licences only.
"The state governments also play a role by tightening the conditions for new applications and license renewals for businesses in their respective states to curb business monopolies by foreigners," the statement read.
Nga said local councils have never allowed any foreigners to apply for or own hawker licences, small business licences, business premises, grocery stores, eateries, car workshops, and markets in line with the Small Traders Ordinance and the Trade, Business, and Industry Ordinance.
"Under the Small Traders Ordinance, local councils do not recognise or allow foreigners as hawkers and small traders. They also do not allow the employment of foreigners as workers/assistants under hawker licences at local council premises.
"This is because the rental rates set by the local councils are below market prices and aimed at providing business opportunities to local citizens."
Nga said, under the Trade, Business, and Industry Ordinance, licences are only issued to Malaysians and allow foreigners to be employed as workers or assistants provided they have valid work permits or trade permits.