He told a press conference here today that he had received numerous complaints from hawkers in Malacca, Alor Setar, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur about bazaar spots being rented out at exorbitant prices.

“Local councils should control the rent of these bazaar stalls,” he said.

“They are not GLCs, so they don’t need to charge hawkers ridiculously high rent to seek profit.”

Ridzuan also slammed the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry for not carrying out its duty in protecting hawkers and traders.

“The previous minister was bad enough, but the current minister (Hamzah Zainudin) talks a lot, but never does anything to help the hawkers.

“I have received complaints that if you were to go to their office in Putrajaya, it is nearly impossible to meet even their clerks, and I’d bet that if you were to call them up, you wouldn’t be able to get through,” he claimed.

Ridzuan then urged the ministry to look into the matter and also called on the prime minister to take the ministry to task for failing to do its duties.