The USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar at Jalan USJ 4/5, Subang Jaya, has 157 traders. There are a couple of stalls offering Menu Rahmah items too. — Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
IN AN effort to encourage more sustainable lifestyles, Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) gave RM10 food coupons each to the first 100 visitors at the USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar who brought their own food containers.
The coupon distribution was part of the MBSJ Ramadan Bazaar Walkabout programme to promote green initiatives and cashless transactions at selected bazaars under MBSJ’s purview.
“MBSJ and the state government are running several green initiatives at Ramadan bazaars,” said Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng.
“Apart from encouraging shoppers to bring their own food containers, polystyrene packaging and plastic straw are banned. We also want to promote cashless transactions.”
She said the USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar had an additional green initiative with social enterprise What A Waste stepping in to rescue excess unsold food from traders, to be distributed to B40 communities, the destitute (asnaf) and welfare homes in Subang Jaya.
“MBSJ councillor Kamarul Hisham Yeop Hashim (whose zone covers USJ 1 to 6) is also distributing 50 food containers to complement this initiative,” said Ng.
“We hope to reduce single-use plastics that contribute to pollution.
“We all play an important role in mitigating climate change,” she added.
Ng (in pink) and Mohd Azwan (blue cap) launching the Cashless Ramadan Bazaar campaign. With them are (from left) Nik Zalina and MBSJ councillors Khairol Basri M. Arif and Kamarul Hisham Yeop Hashim.
The USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar at Jalan USJ 4/5 in Subang Jaya has 157 traders.
There are also a couple of stalls offering Menu Rahmah items.
MBSJ is offering 26 Ramadan bazaar locations this year, with 1,144 traders operating in total.
MBSJ Licensing Department director Nik Zalina Megat Muda said, “The ban on polystyrene packaging and plastic straws, and the use of cashless transactions is mandatory at all Ramadan bazaars under our purview.”
She said the campaign to recycle used cooking oil was ongoing at selected bazaars too.
She also said that the city council had made it mandatory for all Ramadan bazaar traders to remove their equipment, such as tents, when they close shop for the day.
“Every site should remain clean when it reverts to its original use.
“For example, the USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar is held on a public road.
A visitor receiving the coupon for bringing her own food container from an MBSJ personnel.
“Traders who don’t follow green initiatives will first be given a warning while repeat offenders may have their business permits revoked.
“MBSJ will take action on those leaving their equipment overnight, either by confiscating the items or revoking their business permits,” Nik Zalina warned.
On a separate matter, Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) is running a campaign to encourage cashless transactions through Selangor Wallet, a system powered by WavPay.
Sidec ecommerce division manager Mohd Azwan Mohd Maasom said those who use the WavPay app at selected Ramadan bazaars in Selangor stand a chance to win lucky draw prizes worth over RM40,000.
“There will be weekly lucky draws while the grand prize will be drawn during the last week of Ramadan,” he said.
The next MBSJ Ramadan Bazaar Walkabouts are scheduled in Taman Puchong Prima (Jalan Prima 5/1) on April 7 and Taman Sri Serdang (Jalan 18/35) on April 13.
The RM10 food coupons are only valid for same-day use at the same bazaar where they are distributed.
