Nga: No MyKiosk units classified as abandoned or partially operational
KUALA LUMPUR: Local authorities with low MyKiosk occupancy rates will not be considered for new project approvals under the BP.1 (Project Item 1) allocation, as 897 kiosks remain vacant nationwide.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry had introduced a traffic-light monitoring system that links local councils’ occupancy performance to future project approvals.
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“Local authorities recording poor performance under the red zone will not be considered for approval of new projects,” he said in a written parliamentary reply dated Oct 20.
Nga was responding to Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu), who sought the latest figures on MyKiosk occupancy, the number of operational units and the kiosks that had been abandoned or were only partially used.
Nga said 6,346 of the 7,243 MyKiosk units nationwide, or 88%, were occupied and fully operational as of August this year.
The remaining 897 units, accounting for 12% of the total, were still vacant, according to operational reports and data submitted by state governments and local authorities.
A total of RM150 million was allocated under the 2023 and 2024 Budgets for MyKiosk 1.0 and 2.0, which provide small traders with business premises at affordable rental rates.
Nga said the ministry had established an internal task force to conduct regular inspections, assess kiosk locations and expedite efforts to fill vacant units.
The ministry was also holding discussions with local authorities to address operational issues, while councils could apply for additional funding under BP.1 for maintenance and repairs.
BP.1 provides funding to local authorities for infrastructure, public facilities, safety and socioeconomic development projects.
Despite the vacancies, Nga maintained that the ministry did not classify any MyKiosk units as abandoned or partially operational.
“The ministry wishes to stress that there is no such thing as abandoned kiosk units or kiosks operating halfway, as ensuring every MyKiosk unit is optimally utilised remains a priority,” he said.