MIRI: At this time of the year, the waters off the coast of Miri are busy and congested with small boats as fishermen go out in search of shrimps, some one kilometre away from the coast line.
FRESH CATCH: Part-time fisherman 56-year-old Mohd Hadi (left) and his son-in-law carry their newly caught shrimps to Batu 1 Kuala Baram market for her daughter who is a vendor there. They are bringing with them about 38 kilogrammes of shrimps that could easily give a return of RM304 for a two-hour work. — Photos by Chimon Upon
GOOD DEAL: Rohani (right) receives payment from Kamsiah at her stall along Miri-Kuala Baram coastal road.
It is the time of the year when shrimps are plentiful and are sold to many ready vendors with customers waiting in line to buy the freshest catch of the day.
These shrimps are the main ingredient for making shrimp paste (belacan) and pickled shrimps, which are local delicacies.
For 30 years at this time of the year, 56-year-old Rohani Hassan has been relying on the fishermen’s catch as the quality shrimps have become the main source of income for her husband and family.
This canny fish vendor from Kampung Palau Melayu in Miri sells on average of 800 to 1,000kg of shrimps a month, from which she makes about RM3,000 a day .
However, her earning depends heavily on the fishermen’s catch as there are always customers waiting to buy the shrimps, Rohani told The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) who met her along the coastal road to Kuala Baram.
She related that she does not make that kind of money every year as she remembered that one time she sold 10kg of shrimps for only RM7, meaning only RM1.50 per kg.
While BAT was interviewing Rohani, her faithful and regular customer Kamsiah Hashim came to pick her order for the day.
The shrimp paste maker came all the way from Bintulu with her daughter to pick her fresh stock of shrimps from Rohani.
Kamsiah told BAT that Rohani had been supplying her with quality shrimps and that was why she came all the way to Miri to pick her order.
“I trust her shrimps and they make good shrimp paste and because of this the quality of Bintulu belacan has always been maintained, she said.
She also told BAT that even Malaysian celebrity Chef Wan agreed that the shrimp paste from Bintulu is of good grade.
“Therefore, we the shrimp paste makers must keep that standard and reputation,” said Kamsiah before she handed her money to Rohani to close their transaction for the day.
Rohani revealed to BAT that 10kg of shrimps will make around 3kg of belacan and sold at RM80 per kg in the market.
She said that although the belacan are usually for the local market, they are also exported to west Malaysia.