Photo shows an empty Tamu Kedayan, despite its reopening.
MIRI: Only a handful of traders were spotted at Tamu Muhibbah here following its reopening yesterday, having been ordered closed since March 20 in line with the Movement Control Order (MCO).
A visit to the market around 9am found fewer than 10 traders manning their stalls, while Tamu Kedayan located in the same vicinity had no trader at all despite also being reopened yesterday.
Bananas left behind by a trader following the tamu’s closure on March 20 have gone to waste.
The sole fresh chicken seller at Tamu Muhibbah told The Borneo Post that he was able to resume business as he received news of the market’s reopening on Saturday night.
“I saw the notice online on my phone late Saturday night saying that we could start operating today (Sunday), so I quickly made the necessary arrangement. That’s why I was able to come here early this morning.
“Other traders may not have gotten the news and some may only read about in the newspaper this morning, so they’re not in time. But some of them have informed me that they will open a bit later because they need to make some arrangements,” he said.
Ketua Kaum Nasir Rahim, who was helping his wife set up her stall at Tamu Khas – also located in the same area – said on the day of the market’s closure, many traders did not have time to pack up their stuff as they were only given an hour to leave the premises.
“We were lucky as we only sell dried products and were able to pack up quickly. Others who relied on transport service to bring their goods here were unable to move their items out in time and had no choice but to leave them behind,” he said, pointing to an adjacent stall where rotting fruits were seen on the trading table.
Meanwhile, an ‘ikan bilis’ (dried anchovies) seller told The Borneo Post that she and other traders turned to using WhatsApp to sell their products during the market’s closure.
“We sellers have a WhatsApp group that we use to communicate with one another.
“Our friends will get in touch with us if they or their friends want to buy our products.
“It’s not as good as selling in the tamu, but at least we can still earn some income,” she said.