Ramadan bazaar traders hope for good weather

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The Ramadan bazaar at Sibu Town Square Phase II runs from 1pm to 8pm daily.

SIBU: The traders at the Ramadan bazaar in Sibu Town Square Phase II hope that good and sunny weather would prevail this week, seeing that they were affected by the downpour lastFriday.

Gunalan (left) and his assistants pose for the camera at his stall.

Biryani seller Gunalan Subramaniam said due to the heavy rain all afternoon, his sales dropped by almost 50 per cent.

“Usually during rainy days, customers would not go out (to the Ramadan bazaar) – this affects our business badly,” said the trader, whose signature dishes are lamb and chicken biryani.

For this fasting month, Gunalan introduces two new menu items – ‘Nasi Kukus Ayam Berempah’ (steamed rice with spiced chicken) and ‘Rojak Mamak’.

“Both dishes are a hit  with the food lovers here,” he said, adding that his stall opens from 1pm to 7pm.

Gunalan, who is the manager of Sri Pelita Islamic Café here, noted that the crowd was ‘quite good’ on weekdays.

“However, they would come in droves in the weekends and during public holidays.”

Meanwhile, Arshad Dawet said the Friday downpour was not the only thing that affected his business.

“Eggs cost more these days,” lamented the trader, whose specialty is ‘Roti John’ – a local ‘hybrid’ of French toast, hamburger and kebab, which is very popular among Malaysians .

Eggs are among the base ingredients of this snack, alongside minced beef or chicken and onions.

Arshad prepares an order for his famous ‘Roti John’.

“The majority of my customers prefer beef. However, some of them like the beef-chicken combo, which begins to gain popularity,” Arshad said.

The Ramadan bazaar at Sibu Town Square Phase II houses 173 stalls selling food, drinks and other merchandise items such as clothing, and it operates till June 12.

The bazaar is jointly run by the Ramadan Bazaar Committee and Sibu Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth.