Ismail said he could relate to the community as he himself was a hawker when growing up, selling lemons and fish at the Temerloh Sunday market.

“Hawkers are always close to my heart. I understand the issues raised by them because I have been through it before,” he said at the Mega Micropreneurs and Hawkers Fiesta at Dataran Merdeka.

That was why, he said, he had approved applications by hawkers. However, he did not elaborate.

“I hope hawkers and petty traders will help me on polling day.”

Asked later to explain what he meant by “help”, Ismail said it was up to the hawkers to interpret it.

He also said requests by hawkers and petty traders could only be attended to after GE15 because as the caretaker prime minister, he could not approve anything.