Foreigners Refute Claims Of Market Licence Abuse
By Asri Razak, Husin Ismail

Bandar Seri Begawan - Foreigners working at the Pasar Tani in Sengkurong yesterday disputed local farmers' allegations that they were abusing trading licences.

Indonesian traders at the agriculture market's wholesale section told The Brunei Times that they were working for Bruneians who held permits to cultivate the government's land and sell their produce at the market.

Indonesian trader Yanto and wife Nyami, for example, said they had been working as attendants at the market for a Bruneian farmer in the Sultanate since the middle of the 1990s. "We earn monthly salaries from the boss," Yanto said.

Last week, farmer and trader Alihan Alias told officials of the agriculture department at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in a motivational seminar that foreign workers operating at the Sengkurong Pasar Tani had violated trading rules.

Alihan claimed foreigners had bought trading licences from locals for $500. He also alleged that foreign traders in the wholesale section did not follow the standardised pricing set by Pasar Tani.

"I have never heard of monthly rental fee of $500 per lot," said foreign trader Sri, adding that it was usually $75.

Sri was taking care of a stall yesterday while her employer ran some errands.

Indonesian Agus Suprianto said Indonesians worked for Bruneian farm owners on a salary, profit-sharing or commission basis.

On a profit-sharing basis, Indonesians are assigned to cultivate Bruneians' farms and sell their produce at the market with profits divided by agreement. "We work on the farm and sell the produce here and then the earnings are split between us and our boss," said Agus.

However, it is not known if such practice is unlawful.

In a phone interview, Sengkurong Pasar Tani chairman Tuah Noordin said: "Traders eligible to operate at the market are Bruneian farmers who hold licences to do busii there."

He added that even though foreigners were given working permits, "they are supposed to work and help at the farms, not at the market". He admitted receiving complaints from local farmers about the presence of foreigners at the wholesale market.

"However, we cannot refer the complaints to the higher authorities because there is little supporting evidence."

Meanwhile, Bruneian retail trader Tamit Abdul Rahim claimed that foreigners at the wholesale section were selling produce at retail prices.

Furthermore, the produce sold by the foreign traders were not their own, he said.

He said the practice went against the rulings clearly written on a large notice at the market, which says that only goods produced by local farmers are allowed to b e sold at the wholesale section.

"They (foreigners) buy from local farmers in the morning and sell them at the wholesale section at retail prices," said Tamit.

He said the market rules stating that produce at the wholesale section must be sold in volume of no less than, five kilograms was also being violated.

However, some traders interviewed said their trading could be regarded as wholesale as long as the price was not less than $1. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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