Several streets across Johor come alive with the sights, sound and aromas of food bazaars towards late afternoon until the sun sets, now that it is Ramadan.
A tradition deeply woven into the fabric of Malaysian culture, these bustling markets, taking place during the fasting month, offer more than just food.
Held in 200 locations within the jurisdiction of 16 local councils across Johor, the bazaars embody the Ramadan spirit of community, generosity and togetherness.
From sizzling murtabak to fragrant ayam percik, the bazaars are where people congregate in search of a meal to break their fast with.
Among them is housewife Salmah Yusof, 30, who looks forward to buying food and drinks for her family at the bazaar.
“I have enjoyed going to the Ramadan bazaar from young. Now that I am married and a mother, I bring my children along when visiting a bazaar.
“We only buy food and drinks that we can finish. If you buy too much, it ends up in the rubbish bin. The aim is not to be wasteful,” she said.
Salmah said she was pleased with the level of cleanliness at Ramadan bazaars in Johor Baru, and was happy to see state Health Department and local council staff carrying out checks at stalls.
“Many of the bazaars around Johor Baru are very clean, and I hope this continues until the last day of fasting.
“I have also noticed many traders wearing gloves and aprons and washing their hands regularly when handling food. This shows good hygiene,” she added.
Salmah said the sight of clean bazaars and good hygiene practices make people feel safe to buy their meals from bazaar traders.
Maintenance worker Mohd Rizal Ramlan,45, likes visiting different bazaars during Ramadan as it gives him the chance to see the many specialities available.
“There are a lot of popular bazaars around Johor Baru, such as the one in Bandar Baru Uda, Taman Perling, Taman Dahlia, Angsana Mall and in Kempas.
“These bazaars are not only popular with locals but among Singaporeans as well.
“Some of the stalls are quite well-known and have a following, which is why certain Ramadan bazaars are able to attract large crowds,” he added.
Mohd Rizal said he would spend no more than RM50 per day when visiting a bazaar, to avoid wasting food.
“Usually, I will buy one or two packets of drinks, a small murtabak and a few traditional Malay kuih for my wife and I,” he said.
“My wife reminds me not to spend too much on food because she would have cooked for the break of fast.
“On days when she does not cook, I will buy food from the bazaar for buka puasa because it is cheaper than eating out.”
Self-employed Mohd Amirul Muhammad Sani, 30, said heading to a bazaar was his first choice to buy food for his family, especially during weekdays.
“Both my wife and I are working parents and we have two children. My children attend primary school in the morning and religious classes in the afternoon.
“Due to our packed schedule five days a week, we often go to the bazaar for our food and drinks so we can break fast together,” he added.
Mohd Amirul said buying food at the Ramadan bazaar saved him and his wife a lot of time as they would not have to rush home from work to cook their meal.
“The price of food is not that expensive but sometimes the quality is disappointing, especially when it comes to kuih such as curry puffs that don’t have enough filling,” he said.
Satay seller Muhammad Nashriq Othman, 36, said this was his first time participating as a trader at a Ramadan bazaar.
“I have a restaurant and because it is the fasting month, my restaurant is closed for the time being. I decided to open a stall to continue with business during this period.
“The first few days of Ramadan were challenging because operating a small stall and running a restaurant are different, but it is proving to be a good experience.”
Despite the challenges, he expects more people to visit the Bandar Baru Uda Ramadan bazaar in upcoming weeks.
“Families with children have had to fork out a lot prior to the fasting month due to expenses for school. Some may be cautious with their spending now,” he said.
“However, I am hopeful that business will pick up pace during the second week of fasting,” added Muhammad Nashriq.
Taco seller Mohd Amirul Asyraf Nordin, 25, said this was his fourth time participating at a Ramadan bazaar.
He said his version of Mexican food was popular with locals.
“I have a taco stall in Stulang Laut, but for the fasting month, I decided to open a stall at the Ramadan bazaar in Bandar Baru Uda.
“So far, it has been very busy for me. This is a good sign for the coming weeks,” he added.
Mohd Amirul said his taco was priced at RM17 for chicken filling, RM18 for mixed taco and RM19 for beef taco.
“Beef taco is popular with my customers and sells out within hours of opening my stall, which is around 4pm,” he said.
