KUALA LUMPUR: The government has acknowledged that the hike in the rental for Ramadan bazaar sites is affecting the operational costs of traders.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the hike was particularly evident if traders did not deal directly with the local authorities, but through other agents.
Anwar (PH-Tambun) also said the outsourcing of agents has also led to traders paying more for the rental of bazaar sites.
"When it comes to the issue of Ramadan bazaars (site), I was able to visit four to five bazaars and (I discovered) the rental costs are too high.
"We (the government) have also given instructions that if (the site) is managed by the local authority, there should not be pressure (on rental costs).
"This is clear in sites managed by local authorities, but if it is being dealt with by agents, the costs are increased," he said during the prime minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Anwar said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) who enquired the prime minister about the plans to mitigate the hike in Ramadan bazaar operational costs following the increase in the services and sales (SST) tax.
Anwar, however, said the hike in rental costs did not have anything to do with the increase in the rate of SST.
This, he said, was as certain sectors and services are exempted from the increase in SST, including food, telecommunications and electricity.
"In Tambun yesterday (during a visit), I also discovered that rental costs, despite being high, have a small impact.
"I also do not think it is due to an increase in SST. Ramadan bazaars have no direct relevance to the SST.
"However, we also cannot deny that some companies (agents) also take advantage of the situation (to increase costs). (And) we agree that a continuous monitoring of Ramadan bazaars must be made following complaints of high rental costs."