By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 6: Hawkers from Kuching and Kota Samarahan also want to receive the RM100 cash aid from Sarawak DAP after the party put together a RM20,000 fund to assist Icom Square hawkers whose businesses have been adversely affected following the area being declared a Covid-19 cluster.
Kuching and Kota Samarahan Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Chang Hot Chai thus asked Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) if their members could also benefit from the aid as their businesses have also been hurt by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“I want to ask our DAP elected representatives if all hawkers are eligible for the aid or just targeted hawkers.
“A lot of our members have been asking if they could also get the RM100 aid from DAP.
“We have not heard from the party for a while now and if this initiative is for all hawkers, we will be thankful for their contributions towards the hawker community,” he said in a press conference held at Hui Sing Hawker Centre here today.
Chang pointed out that such good news should benefit all hawkers and not only targeted at hawkers in Icom Square which involved a relatively small cluster of infections as many hawkers in Stutong and Green Road markets were also affected when Covid-19 cases emerged in those areas but there was no assistance given during that time.
“Otherwise, don’t use hawkers just for their political gimmick or publicity now that the State Election is nearing,” he added.
Looking forward to the response from Sarawak DAP, Chang hopes that all 800 members in 12 areas from Kuching to Kota Samarahan under the Association can get the RM100 aid.
He also thanked the Sarawak government, Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) for the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKKS) incentives of RM2,500 and other assistance rendered to the hawker and small traders community to reduce their burden.
Chang took the opportunity to remind all hawkers to protect themselves and in turn their families by complying with all standard protection procedures (SOPs).
Meanwhile, DAP Bandar Kuching and Stampin Service Centres on April 30 pulled together RM20,000 to assist eligible hawkers located within the vicinity of Covid-19 clusters.
Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii had given assurance that the fund would be fully utilised for such financial assistance purposes only.
With the project kicking off on May 1 to register eligible hawkers at Icom Square, some funds were also distributed to the hawkers on May 2. — DayakDaily
