Research Agency Calls For Increased Support For Hawkers

---

 
In 2023, small-scale hawkers accounted for approximately 15% of Malaysia’s workforce in the informal sector.
PETALING JAYA: A research agency has called for institutional support in creating a conducive environment for hawkers.
In a working paper released today, Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) stressed the need for access to credit, improving infrastructure in low-density areas, and ensuring fair policies to protect hawkers’ livelihoods.
KRI also said policies should consider effective interventions to support hawkers in underserved areas, facilitating their transition to permanent structures and greater economic stability.
The recommendations were the result of a study on the evolution of hawkers and their roles in the economy, titled “Hawkers and Hawking Space in Malaysia: A Case Study”.
“This study not only examines the significance of small-scale hawkers in Malaysia’s economic landscape but also emphasises their importance in our urbanised society,” said the report’s lead author Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim.
“Supporting small-scale hawkers can foster entrepreneurship, strengthen local economic development, and preserve a vital aspect of our national identity.”
KRI also said hawker activities had emerged as a low-capital employment opportunity for individuals with limited access to formal jobs, with increased participation during economic downturns.
The researchers also observed that rising incomes and increased female workforce participation had transformed eating habits, with more people opting for quick and accessible meals.
In this context, they said hawker-prepared food offered a convenient, affordable option for all income levels as the low operating costs of hawkers allowed them to provide quality food at lower prices than formal eateries.
Adding that hawkers had been a crucial component of micro-enterprises in Malaysia, the report said that small-scale hawkers accounted for approximately 15% of Malaysia’s workforce in the informal sector in 2023, with 73% of them concentrated in urban areas.
Using satellite data, the study revealed clusters of hawker stalls in key urban areas such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Kota Setar.
It said while these urban areas benefited from high consumer demand, strong purchasing power, and government support, rural and low-density areas faced challenges such as weak infrastructure and limited economic activity, resulting in fewer hawker stalls.
The report is part of ongoing research at KRI on micro-enterprises in Malaysia. The analysis in the report was a collaboration between KRI and the Asia School of Business, which provided the satellite data for KRI’s analysis. - FMT

---