Nek Na with her delicious traditional cakes.
SIBU: There are still a small band of traders selling food and beverages at Kampung Usahajaya Baru in Sentosa Salim, yesterday, despite being not allowed to sell either within their house compounds or by the roadside next to their houses during Ramadan.
They, however, said they were ready to cooperate if the authorities were to direct them to close.
“For the time being, I am still opening my stall for the sake of neighbours who love to ‘tapau’ (take away) my traditional cakes such as sumang ubi, kelupis pulut, panggang, nasi lemak and seri muka ubi,” a trader who only wished to be known as Nek Na said when met yesterday.
She said the number of customers who came to buy from her was very low this year, most probably due to the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO).
“I experienced brisk business during other months,” she added.
Nek Na, 55, said, she only started selling food for Ramadan this year ‘to earn extra money for my grandchildren’.
Asked if she was aware of the directive that traders are not allowed to sell food and beverages during Ramadan by setting up stalls, either within their house compounds or by the roadside next to their houses, she said she just heard from friends in Kampung Hilir that the authorities had been going to the ground directing traders to prepare food and beverages at home and sell them through takeaway or online.
“It is rather unfortunate for me because I do not know anything about selling cakes ‘online’,” she said.
She nevertheless said she would get her younger family members to help her advertise her cakes online.
“I hope one day soonest that this Covic-19 thing is over and I can bring my grandchildren to the park to play as we used to do,” she said when asked about her wish.
Another trader from the same village, who only wished to be known as Noh, said he would abide by any instruction from the authorities to close his stall.
“I have been selling banana fritters and cendol (ABC ice) for more than 20 years. However, I recently diversified into selling fried chicken also. Response was good before Covid-19 came into the picture. Now, due to the disease and movement control order (MCO) business is rather slow,” he lamented.
When asked whether he was aware of the directive requiring traders not to sell food and beverages during Ramadan by setting up stalls, either within their house compounds or by the roadside next to their houses, he replied: “As a trader, I am very concerned about my financial affair. Several days before the fasting month I was busy preparing a stall in front of my house. Honestly, I am unaware that traders are not allowed to set up roadside stalls or even one within the house compound.”
Noh, in his 60s, said he would miss the mood if all Ramadan stalls were ordered closed this time because he has been operating such stall every year.
“Anyway, I will ask my children and grandchildren to help me to advertise my products online so that people can call us to place orders for breaking fast,” he said.
Noh hoped that Covic-19 would end soon so that he could go on with his usual business and routine in order to earn some income.