Some forced to increase prices but visitor numbers remain high
WITH over 200 Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaar locations statewide, Johoreans are spoilt for choice.
Traders in Johor Baru are also optimistic that the fasting month will be good for business.
For 21-year-old Ahmad Khuwarizmi Ahmad Khiruddin, the Ramadan bazaar is more than just a place to earn extra income.
It is also an opportunity to grow his small venture and build a loyal customer base.
Now in his second year as a trader, Ahmad Khuwarizmi is selling seven types of iced drinks made from fresh ingredients.
Last year, he operated a stall at Taman Universiti Ramadan Bazaar.
This year, he secured a spot at the Taman Perling Ramadan Bazaar, which he said offered greater exposure.
He said Taman Perling, under the jurisdiction of Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), was considered a prime spot for traders due to the large number of visitors.
“Within the first few days, I could already see better sales compared to last year,” he told StarMetro.
Among his best-selling drinks are green tea, yam, vanilla blue and iced milk tea.
The encouraging response has strengthened this young entrepreneur’s confidence.
Good business
For 49-year-old Noorhadi Hamdan, trading has been his livelihood for 25 years.
He has been preparing and selling various types of fried noodles and rice at Ramadan bazaars as well as night markets.
“I enjoy doing this and plan to continue for many years.”
However, he acknowledged that the business came with challenges.
Unpredictable weather remains one obstacle, but the rising cost of renting lots has become the biggest concern for many traders.
“Rental during Ramadan can be very expensive, especially for privately managed lots where it can reach thousands of ringgit,” said Noorhadi.
This, he said, did not include the rising cost of ingredients.
“These factors force traders to increase their prices. We do not have much choice.”
Noorhadi welcomed the state government’s decision to set a ceiling price of not more than RM500 for rental fees at local council-managed bazaars, saying it had helped ease business expenses.
In previous years, he set his mee goreng price at RM4.
“Now I sell it at RM5 per packet because the cost of goods has increased.”
Noorhadi said he made it a point to explain the situation to his customers, especially long-time patrons.
“Many of them understand why the price has gone up.”
Prices maintained
For 42-year-old Norazalia Abd Razak, the crowd at Nusa Perintis Ramadan Bazaar, also organised by MBIP, has been as good as last year.
“The response has been very encouraging. Many days, we sell out.”
She had repeat customers in the first few days of the Ramadan bazaar, as well as familiar faces who have patronised her business in the last 20 years.
“My prices remain the same as last year, and the portions are unchanged too.”
Norazalia said her trading extended beyond Ramadan.
She sells fried chicken at farmers’ markets and night markets in Bandar Putra, Perling Mall, Nusantara, Taman Universiti, Datin Halimah and Pasir Gudang, among various locations.
Her experience reflects how long-time vendors continue to draw steady crowds, including repeat customers.
Customers from afar
Siti Azilah Ithnin, 34, who has been selling Roti John at Ramadan bazaars for over 20 years, said business had improved.
“This year has brought more customers, especially in the evenings when many workers return from Singapore and stop by the bazaar.”
She said Nusa Perintis Ramadan Bazaar would see an influx of new faces from Fridays to Sundays, including Singaporeans.
Aside from Ramadan bazaars, Siti Azilah also runs a restaurant serving chicken rice, ayam penyet, and mixed rice with hot dishes, in addition to providing catering services.
“I grew up helping my parents at the stall. They have been trading for 41 years, and I continued the business,” she said.
Recalling the early days of the bazaar, she said it started with only four traders.
“Now there are 126 stalls. It has grown tremendously.”
Azilah said she has kept her prices and portions unchanged.
“Customer feedback has been very satisfying. Most of our regulars keep coming back.”
Lowest fee in Johor
MBIP has the lowest Ramadan bazaar rental fee among local authorities in Johor, at RM270 per lot.
Its chief whip Datuk Mohammad Khairi A. Malik said the uniform rate reflected the city council’s commitment to helping small traders and local entrepreneurs generate income without being burdened by high operating costs.
“For the first time, MBIP has standardised rental rates at all its Ramadan bazaar locations.
“The reduction in rental is expected to give traders room to start their businesses with lower capital, while enhancing their competitiveness and business sustainability.”
Mohammad Khairi said MBIP also implemented a more transparent selection process to ensure fair opportunities for traders, especially those residing in the Iskandar Puteri area.
“This is to prevent monopolisation by outsiders and to give local residents the opportunity to earn a livelihood in their own locality,” he added.
State support
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said this year, a total of 224 bazaar locations involving 13,576 lots had been approved across all 16 local authorities in Johor.
“This is compared to 228 locations with 12,757 lots in 2025,” he said, adding that Johor remained one of the states with the highest number of Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaar sites in the country.
Mohd Jafni said the slight restructuring in the number of locations was aimed at ensuring that each bazaar was viable, safe and clean, while preventing congestion.
He said the move was not intended to limit opportunities for traders to earn a living.
“Instead, it is to ensure that every approved bazaar has better planning, sufficient basic facilities and stricter monitoring by the local authorities.”
He added that the RM500 cap on rental was aimed at eliminating middlemen and ensuring that business opportunities were not monopolised or exploited by certain parties.
Strict compliance
Mohd Jafni reiterated that foreigners were not allowed to undertake business activities at Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars in Johor.
This includes direct or indirect involvement whether as owners, tenants, operators, proxies or key stall workers.
“There will be no compromise and no leniency given for any form of foreign involvement in bazaar business operations.”
He said any attempt to transfer, lease, rent out or allow third parties, including foreigners, to use a bazaar licence constituted breach of conditions.
Mohd Jafni said such violations could result in licence cancellation, stall closure and enforcement action without prior notice.
He said this strict prohibition reflected the state government’s commitment to ensuring that seasonal trading opportunities remained the right of local residents, particularly small traders and micro-entrepreneurs.
He added that the measure also aimed to eliminate any opportunity for exploitation, licence abuse and illegal activity.
At the same time, the state government has directed all local authorities to ensure applications for bazaar lots are processed transparently and fairly.
Priority, Mohd Jafni said, must be given to locals, small-scale operators and those who genuinely depended on bazaar income to support their families.
Mohd Jafni also revealed that a total of six seizure cases were recorded and two cases involving verbal warnings issued by local council enforcement officers at last year’s bazaars.
“Two notices were served on traders for non-compliance with regulations, while one compound was issued during the bazaar period,” he said.
