Malaysia: Association: Petty Traders Unhappy with New Tobacco Ruling

Source from:  The Star 12/28/2015

At least 20,000 small-time and sundry shop cigarette vendors are up in arms about an order by the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry for them to be registered and pay a fee starting next year.

Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association deputy honorary secretary Lim Cheng Hui said many members were unaware of the new ruling.

"Our members are stumped by the ruling, it makes no sense," he told a press conference yesterday.

The ministry, he said, had informed them that the requirement was being done to regulate the tobacco industry.

Lim, who is also the association president for Kelantan, added that all business entities were required to register between January and June next year and pay a fee.

He said the fee is believed to be in the hundreds of ringgit and, if enforced, small-time traders would have to close shop as it would no longer be profitable.

The charges, he said, was in addition to the various permit fees that they had to pay to the local council.

"Under the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board Act, those who break the law can be fined up to RM250,000, jailed three years or both if found guilty.

"Cigarette smugglers will flourish if the new ruling is enforced," he claimed.

Lim said Indian and Indian Muslim coffeeshop and sundry shop associations were also uncomfortable with the latest ministry directive.

"This ruling will affect all businesses in Malaysia but it is not applicable to Sabah and Sarawak," he said. Enditem