A recent news report about a market fully operated by foreigners in the outskirts of the capital did not surprise me at all. The story of foreigners doing business in Malaysia is not new and it has been going on for a long time.

Just visit certain wet markets in the country and you will see them openly doing business. Some sell foodstuff like kuih and satay and operate newsstands. Many are cobblers and foot masseurs.

I was informed that the cobblers and foot masseurs earn an average of RM100 a day.

I am sure these people did not enter the country on a business visa as there are strict conditions attached to such visas. This can only mean that all, if not a majority of these workers entered the country using work permits or are illegal immigrants.

I am not against these people earning an honest living. What bothers me is that these illegal businesses are not paying income tax to the government. This is very unfair to our own hawkers and petty traders who are compelled to pay income tax and other charges.

Foreign workers who are in the country legally have the right to work, just like any Malaysian. They also contribute to the country’s economy by taking up jobs that are not favoured by locals.

However, illegal immigrants, regardless of whether they are in business or not, must be severely dealt with. Can the local government enforcement officers be entrusted to act?