"Sometimes, I feel like giving up": Traders struggle with rising costs

In Kajang, small-scale traders are eagerly awaiting the government's response to their concerns over rising costs, diminishing profits and dwindling consumer spending, after the Prime Minister called for an assessment of their incomes. Aina Nabilah Abdul Malek, a 32-year-old kuih vendor who began her business in 2022, has turned to providing e-hailing services for women to bolster her income, sourced from their sales at Bandar Sri Permaisuri's market during the 2026 National Hawkers and Small Traders Day.

Despite her earnings varying monthly, often reaching up to RM1,000, she still finds it challenging to sustain her passion for making kuih due to high ingredient prices and limited pricing flexibility. She also struggles with marketing her products, as people are unwilling to pay high prices and busy households prioritize non-essential purchases.

Asfaniza Mohd Jaffar, a 49-year-old crochet trader, faces a similar dilemma, as some potential customers browse without purchasing due to tight budgets, while competitive imported products further strain her sales. Both women have appealed to the government for marketing support and larger event participation opportunities to expand their customer base.

Datuk Zainal Abidin Abd Majid, president of the Federation of Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Associations Malaysia, welcomed the Prime Minister's focus on improving traders' incomes and expressed the federation's cooperation with the government to provide tools for improving productivity and income. Additionally, the federation hopes to assist Hawkers and Petty Traders Associations Malaysia in moving out of the income group and strengthening their families' financial situations.