Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), in collaboration with Kota Kinabalu City Hall, has revived the Ramadan Bazaar at Asia City, here, after two years of “rest” to help traders increase their income.
Kota Kinabalu Fama officer, Saibe Mohamad Saidol, however, said the number of stall lots had to be limited to 73 only and arranged according to standard operating procedures (SOPs), which included set distancing between stalls and provision of scanning of the MySejahtera application to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“They (traders) have been waiting (to trade at the Ramadan bazaar). Even for the past two years, they have applied for the Ramadan bazaar to be opened, but due to the pandemic it was not allowed to operate.
“Now the Ramadan bazaar has been allowed (to operate) and there are relaxations on the SOPs. The applicants are grateful ... people say this Ramadan bazaar is the source of livelihood for most Ramadan bazaar traders (in this city),” he said.
Saibe, who is also the coordinator of the Ramadan bazaar at Asia City, hopes that the traders and patrons can together comply with the SOP set and adapt to the new norms of Ramadan bazaars.
Meanwhile, the traders involved were elated that the Ramadan bazaar has been allowed to operate this time, with some of them already making preparations to do business starting tomorrow, the first day of the fasting month.
One of the traders, Suriani Amir, 42, said she would make full use of the opportunity to generate side income as she has not traded in such a bazaar for two years.
The same sentiment was also shared by Jessy Nur Ain Majinam Abdullah, 41, who for the past two years has been continuing her kuih muih (traditional cakes) and pastry business online.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) for being able to do business again in this Ramadan bazaar as it is an opportunity to generate income. I hope the Ramadan bazaar this time is more lively,” said Jessy Nur Ain, who also provides an e-Wallet application to make it easier for people to pay without cash.
