When Life Gives You Pickled Mango
You know what they say – when life gives you lemon, make lemonade. If you have mango, make ‘jeruk mangga’ (pickled mango) instead. While it may be sour, it might put a sweet smile on someone’s face.
It is not uncommon to see street vendors selling ‘jeruk mangga’ at road junctions particularly at traffic lights in the Klang Valley. When the light hits red, it’s go time for them.
When these “direct sales” started on Malaysian streets, it was very well received by the public. Naturally, such vendors popped up like mushrooms after the rain. It became the talk of each town – “which traffic light junction?”
Then, accidents started to happen. Vehicles collided with each other as they tried to avoid the eager street vendor crossing the road haphazardly to make his next sale. There were also cases where motorcyclists collided with the street vendor as they feverishly weaved around the cars waiting at the traffic lights.
The questions that arise are these: Are these vendors allowed to sell their “jeruk mangga” like this? Are we allowed to buy from these vendors?
The answer is rather straightforward. According to Rule 10A(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, no one is allowed to sell anything to any person in / on a vehicle at road junction or on any road.
In fact, Rule 10A(2) states that you are not allowed to buy or even attempt to buy anything while you are in your car (save for a drive thru service) whilst you are on the road. So, if you so much roll down your window, interact with the street vendor and attempt to hand out money to pay for your treat, it may be deemed as an offence, and you may find yourself to be in a pickle!
The primary concern here is the safety of road users and it is high time that law enforcers continue to take actions to fine the street vendors and even take drastic measures to seize their products on site and on sight.
Their intention to sell and put food on their own table is not wrong, but this must be done in accordance with the law. The street vendors are at liberty to apply the necessary license from the relevant authorities to legitimise their business at an appropriate location. More importantly, their business activities must be safe from any danger to themselves and to its customers.
Image credit: https://thesun.my/home-news/traffic-light-fruit-syndicate-leader-earns-up-to-rm48k-monthly-AM11489696
About the Author
Afiq Iskandar is a Senior Associate of XK Law. He graduated from MARA University of Technology, Malaysia. Afiq has multiple interests in life beyond reading law viz. sports, film, music and poetry. He believes that art, in whatever form they may be, is a necessity of life.
