Iban traders at Sibu Central Market enjoy brisk business

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SOUP BOOSTER: Indai Sito showing her ‘kasam ensabi’ which is selling like hot cakes.

EXOTIC: Sela showing exotic traditional hats which she sells at reasonable prices.

IN HIGH DEMAND : Beda arranging her ‘buluh pansuh’.

VISITORS’ FAVOURITE: Bicha showing a piece of ‘pua kumbu’ at her shop.

SIBU: Ibans traders who ply their trade at Sibu Central Market are enjoying brisk business.

One of them, Beda Liang, confided that her ‘buluh pansuh’ had being selling like hot cakes.

“For ‘buluh pansuh’, chickens are cooked in bamboos. It is a very healthy method of cooking chickens,” she said when met at the Market yesterday.

She added that several days before Gawai was the best time for selling this traditional delicacy.

“I managed to sell over 1,000 ‘buluh pansuh’ from May 29 till June 3, and earned over RM4,000,” said a beaming Beda, who got her supply from Julau.

She sold the ‘buluh pansuh’ for RM2, RM3 and RM4 each, depending on size.

Fellow trader Bicha Undi said her ‘pua kumbu’ (Iban textile) were in high demand, especially from visitors.

“People from Peninsular Malaysia seem to like ‘pua kumbu’ very much. They told me they love its very unique designs and the material used to weave it,” she said.

The 40-something Bicha said most of the ‘pua kumbu’ sold by her were treated as souvenirs by her clients.

“Apart from ‘pua kumbu’, I also sell ‘tangu’, which is placed on the shoulders of Iban women whenever they wear full traditional Iban costumes,” she explained.

Another trader, popularly known as Indai Sito, said her ‘kasam ensabi’ was enjoying brisk sales after the Gawai celebration.

“Kasam ensabi are made by soaking vegetables in water for about two weeks and then mix it with salt and sugar.

“Some people cook it with chicken soup, which makes it even more delicious,” she chuckled.

Indai Sito said she sold her ‘kasam ensabi’ for RM2 per plate.

Another Iban trader, who wanted to be known only as Sela, said the traditional Iban items sold in her shop attracted all sorts of people.

“We sell them all at reasonable prices,” she said.

Sela, in her 40s, disclosed that she got her supply from various places in the Central Region.