Talib (right) greets a stall operator at the Ramadan bazaar.
BINTULU: Four main Ramadan bazaars here house a total of 278 food and drinks stalls this year.
According to Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager Rodziah Morshidi, the Esplanade Ramadan Bazaar has 120 stalls, the one at Taman Millenium Phase II has 90 stalls, Tapak Niaga Assyakirin has 62 stalls, while the bazaar at RPR Kidurong Phase I has six stalls.
However, the Pantai ABF Ramadan Bazaar could not operate this year due to ongoing upgrading works on the area’s ‘pasar minggu’ (weekend market), she said at the opening of the Tapak Niaga Assyakirin Ramadan Bazaar in Kampung Assyakirin here yesterday, where Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip officiated at the
event.
It is learnt that the facility was built at the cost of RM600,000.
“This is the first time for BDA to open up this trading area especially for the people of Kampung Assyakirin, for them to earn extra incomes during this holy month of Ramadan.
“This will be a permanent trading site for the locals,” said Rodziah.
According to her, the site for the bazaar is quite strategic in that it is near to ‘Tapak Niaga’ (trading centre) Assyakirin and Medan Raya commercial area.
Adding on, Rodziah said BDA had been allocated a special fund by the state government, meant to upgrade the Tanjung Batu trading site, Tapak Niaga Assyakirin, Pantai ABF and Bintulu Night Market – in a way, an immediate assistance for small traders.
“Therefore the traders at these sites must be more responsible by observing high standard of hygiene and cleanliness at their stalls, especially when preparing food.
“We appeal for the support and cooperation from all parties in making these sites attractive,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rodziah said BDA is embarking on the ‘No Styrofoam and No Polystyrene’ initiative at all Ramadan bazaars under its jurisdiction.
“This is a new initiative and we hope the local community and the traders, in particular, would give full support to this campaign,” she said, adding that officers from BDA and Bintulu Health Office would be conducting regular inspections on the Ramadan bazaars here throughout the fasting
month.
In his remarks, Talib stressed about the importance for Ramadan bazaar traders to make sure that their stalls and the surrounding areas would be clean at all times.
“Cleanliness is the main factor that can attract visitors to your stalls; with good and delicious food, people would surely come to you and in return, you would earn more profits,” said Talib, who is Jepak assemblyman.
Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat and his deputy Hamdiah Bakir, as well as local community leaders Temenggong Rosli Kamaruddin and Temenggong Datuk Barry Yek were also present at the event yesterday, where the stall operators also received free aprons from Talib.