A couple takes a closer look at some durians at Layah’s stall.
SIBU: The seasonal fruit vendors coming from outside this division have commended Sibu Municipal Council (SMC)’s for allowing them to trade at the open space in front of central market here.
A young vendor known only as Jang, 24, from Nanga Musah in Song District, said it was a good move to ensure traders like him would have a proper place to sell fruits.
“It is better than setting up illegal structures by the roadside that not only obstruct the traffic, but is also unsafe for us and our customers.
“For the buyers, this is like a one-stop centre where they are spoilt for choice when it comes to seasonal fruits,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Jang, who sells ‘dabai’ (local olive), said they were charged a reasonable fee of RM3 per day to trade at the open space.
He said he enjoyed good business selling ‘dabai’, which he gathered from longhouse residents in Song, at the same spot where he had been trading since more than a month ago – the beginning of the fruit season here.
Another trader Layah Belikau of Menuan, Kapit was also happy with the SMC’s move.
She sells vegetables and jungle produce in Kapit, but comes down here occasionally to sell fruits.
“At times, I would stop selling vegetables for a while to sell fruits because I could earn more income (from selling fruits),” she said.
Here, Layah is selling durians and dabai purchased from longhouse residents in Kapit.
She said her durians were selling like hot cakes – usually the supply would run out within 30 minutes after unloading.
“It is because of the freshness – I only sell good durians from Kapit at reasonable prices, depending on their sizes.
“I even have a regular customer who buys the fruit from me almost every day,” she said.