(Petaling Jaya, 6th) Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop, Restaurant and Bar Operators Association President Chiu Kok Ming believes that local authorities need not deliberately restrict the number of stalls in coffee shops. He opines that if the number of stalls is too dense and results in a poor dining experience, customers will naturally stay away. Thus, he suggests that operators decide the number of rented stalls themselves based on the shop's area.
“Setting up tables and chairs at parking lots or open spaces near coffee shops at night has become a unique feature of coffee shops and hawker centers in our country. The association hopes that local authorities can formulate clear and precise regulations, such as based on the safety at the scene, requiring a certain number of speed bumps to ensure dining safety.”
The association recently paid a visit to Selangor State Executive Councillor Dato’ Ng Swee Lim, and had discussions on several issues, including limitations on the number of coffee shop stalls, applications for placing outdoor tables and chairs, shop signboard design, and employing foreign workers.
Chiu Kok Ming further said that some local authorities have recently shifted enforcement focus to the text or design of shop signboards or the interior decor, which has placed additional pressure on coffee shop operators. Thus, he hopes that Selangor’s local authorities can moderately relax creative restrictions to enhance the appeal of coffee shops.
“We also hope the government can understand that we are forced to hire foreign workers, because very few locals are willing to engage in such jobs. Even when becoming a stall owner, it is impossible to manage all the work and long hours alone, so we earnestly request the government to allow foreign labor employment with some flexibility.”
In response, Ng Swee Lim expressed that he absolutely welcomes feedback from all associations as a real means to understand the current market situation, especially regarding communication with local authorities, since hawkers and small businesses are important economic pillars and frontline key players of society.
“I will carefully study the content of the memorandum presented by the association. Apart from discussing with local governments to ensure concerns are conveyed upwards, I will also seriously consider the suggestions proposed by the association as reference in amending local government regulations.”
“Setting up tables and chairs at parking lots or open spaces near coffee shops at night has become a unique feature of coffee shops and hawker centers in our country. The association hopes that local authorities can formulate clear and precise regulations, such as based on the safety at the scene, requiring a certain number of speed bumps to ensure dining safety.”
The association recently paid a visit to Selangor State Executive Councillor Dato’ Ng Swee Lim, and had discussions on several issues, including limitations on the number of coffee shop stalls, applications for placing outdoor tables and chairs, shop signboard design, and employing foreign workers.
Chiu Kok Ming further said that some local authorities have recently shifted enforcement focus to the text or design of shop signboards or the interior decor, which has placed additional pressure on coffee shop operators. Thus, he hopes that Selangor’s local authorities can moderately relax creative restrictions to enhance the appeal of coffee shops.
“We also hope the government can understand that we are forced to hire foreign workers, because very few locals are willing to engage in such jobs. Even when becoming a stall owner, it is impossible to manage all the work and long hours alone, so we earnestly request the government to allow foreign labor employment with some flexibility.”
In response, Ng Swee Lim expressed that he absolutely welcomes feedback from all associations as a real means to understand the current market situation, especially regarding communication with local authorities, since hawkers and small businesses are important economic pillars and frontline key players of society.
“I will carefully study the content of the memorandum presented by the association. Apart from discussing with local governments to ensure concerns are conveyed upwards, I will also seriously consider the suggestions proposed by the association as reference in amending local government regulations.”