Under a new Penang Island City Council policy introduced this month, operators may apply for permits, provided a separate pedestrian walkway exists and a minimum clearance of 1.2m is maintained.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is now allowing businesses to place tables and chairs on five-foot walkways but only under strict conditions that preserve pedestrian access.
Under a new Penang Island City Council policy introduced this month, operators may apply for permits, provided a separate pedestrian walkway exists and a minimum clearance of 1.2m is maintained.
City Council licensing director Danny Koay said approval would not be granted where the five-foot way is the only pedestrian path.
“If there is no additional walkway, then it is not allowed. The five-foot way must remain clear for pedestrian use.”
The policy is limited to tables and chairs, and does not cover stalls or other structures. Each application is capped at a maximum of 10 tables and chairs.
However, compliance may prove challenging in older parts of the city, particularly along heritage shoplot rows where space is limited.
Koay cited Chulia Street as an example, saying here is no additional walkway beyond the five-foot way. He added that the council has carried out repeated seizures in the area.
He also said enforcement begins with education and advisory notices, followed by compounds for continued non-compliance.
He said items may be seized if safety concerns arise, and licences could be revoked, although this is rarely necessary as most operators eventually comply.
Koay said the policy does not extend to food trucks, which fall under a separate licensing framework.
He added that food truck operators must apply for licences and propose up to three locations, which are then assessed for safety, traffic flow and congestion risks before approval is granted.
He also said certain locations, such as areas adjacent to privately-managed promenades including Karpal Singh Drive, fall outside City Council’s direct enforcement jurisdiction.
“Residents and business tenants in such areas would need to raise obstruction complaints with the relevant management body rather than the council.”
On April 20, theSun reported that fines aimed at curbing obstruction of five-foot walkways in Penang had failed to deter offenders, with some businesses treating penalties as a cost of doing business.
Encroachment remains widespread, forcing pedestrians, including wheelchair users, onto roads.
Disability groups have said walkways are already inadequate in many areas and have called for stricter enforcement, better planning and clearer guidelines to safeguard pedestrian access.
A coffee shop owner in Sungai Ara told theSun: “Who cares about the fines? We just pay them and continue as usual.”
The owner added that such practices are widespread among operators. Applications to use five-foot walkways can be submitted via City Council’s uLesen portal at ulesen.mbpp.gov.my
