Kuala Lumpur:Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced a significant RM1 million allocation to the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP). This fund aims to support associations, hawkers, and small traders in an effort to boost their incomes across the nation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar initially considered a RM100,000 allocation but decided on RM1 million, recognizing the vast number of hawkers, small traders, and associations nationwide. He emphasized the government's commitment to increasing the income of these groups annually.

At the national-level Hawkers and Small Traders Day (HPPK) Carnival 2026 closing ceremony, Anwar highlighted that the allocation would address the financial struggles of hawkers and small traders, who constitute a major portion of the population and often live hand-to-mouth. He stressed the importance of reducing bureaucratic burdens, such as lengthy loan application processes, to help improve their livelihoods.

Also present at the event were Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, alongside Federation of Malay Hawkers and Small Traders Associations of Malaysia (GPPPKMM) president Datuk Zainal Abidin Abd Majid.

The Prime Minister also tasked Steven Sim with collaborating with associations to gather data on the income trends of hawkers and small traders over the past three years. Anwar underscored the potential benefits for one million families if the government effectively supports these communities.

Moreover, Anwar encouraged hawkers to maintain clean and presentable stalls, noting the preference of 85 percent of the population to dine at street stalls and food outlets. He shared his personal practice of dining at food stalls to endorse small businesses, remarking on the tastiness and affordability of the food compared to large restaurants, and expressed the public's desire for cleanliness and well-maintained facilities.