Local Council Adjustments Spell Uncertainty For Flower Vendors

10 March 2024

Business was not as usual for local florists across Kampar on the wake of UTAR’s 38th convocation following drastic changes in operations and relocation of stalls ordered by the local council.

The florists who view the convocation occasion as a boom season for their flower sales were forced to relocate from their usual vending spots along Jalan Batu Sinar to Dataran Bandar Baru in what appeared to be a bid to bring order in the flower vending business.

However, speaking to Kampar Daily, the florists expressed displeasure at the impromptu relocation move saying that it disrupted business activities at a crucial time when sales are expected to improve.

Ella who has been a florist for thirteen years said although the change works in favor of customers it had made competition among vendors even stiffer due to overcrowding at the same site.

 “It was much easier when the stalls were separated because customers could see our individual stalls and stop by.

“However, with too many stalls at the same site, some of us have to lower the prices to attract customers due to competition, therefore making it difficult to do business here,” she said.

Ella also expressed great uncertainty on the amount of sales they are likely to make at the new site, citing that customers might not be aware that the vendors have relocated, therefore, leading them to miss out on business. 

Meanwhile, Rozi, who is also a regular seller, lamented that high license fees charged by the municipal council have added salt to the wound especially at a time when business has not been steady. 

“Income has not been so good in recent years if I am to be honest, sometimes it’s hard to even make RM 300 a day, let alone to pay for a mandatory business license which is also expensive and only lasts three to four days,” she told Kampar Daily. 

Whilst they were hopeful to adjust and make something out of the situation, it is undeniably clear that the change shook up a core part of their livelihoods as flower vending is the only dear way to earn income to

Reported by: Kevin Komora  l   报道：凯文 科莫拉

每年金宝拉曼大学毕业期间会吸引许多花贩前来售花，然而今年，市议会下令原先在峇都昔娜路（Jalan Batu Sinar）的花贩将摊位迁移到金宝新街场大广场（Dataran Bandar Baru），此举引起了许多花贩的怨言，感叹销量大不如前。

一名卖了13年的花贩艾拉（Ella）接受《金宝日报》采访时指出，她对此次的临时搬迁表示不满，虽然搬迁地点对顾客相对便利，但却让花贩们的竞争更加激烈。

“之前在峇都昔娜路（Jalan Batu Sinar）摆摊比较容易，顾客也容易看到我们的摊位。”

花贩表示，尽管此次搬迁是为了整顿摊位，但却间接导致了许多摊位同时挤在同一地点，摊主只能被迫降低价格来吸引顾客。

此外，艾拉（Ella) 亦表达了花贩们对于自己在新地点售卖毕业花束，所能取得的销售额的极大不确定性，因为顾客们可能对该搬迁毫不知情，进而导致花贩们错失商机。

与此同时，另一名常规卖家罗兹 (Rozi) 坦言，在花贩们生意不稳定的时候，市议会向他们征收的高昂营业执照费可谓 ‘雪上加霜’。

“说实话，近年来花贩的收入并不是特别地好，有时候一天甚至都很难挣到300零吉，更别说还得被迫支付一份价格昂贵且只能维持三到四天的营业执照。”

虽然花贩们皆希望自己在经历上述变化后能调整好状态，并从中取得收获，但对于一些花贩来说，花卉摊位是他们唯一的收入来源，因此这种变化还是无可避免地动摇了他们生计的核心部分。