Monsoon season: it’s business as usual for breakfast ‘nasi’ traders

KUALA KRAI: It is virtually a must especially for Kelantanese to look for their favourite rice dishes such as nasi kerabu, nasi lemak, nasi dagang, nasi gulai ayam and so on, for breakfast.

Even though several areas in the state were flooded, many traders around Kuala Krai continued to keep their stalls open to serve a wide variety of morning rice dishes to their hungry customers.

A Bernama observation found morning rice dishes were available all over the district with traders busy with customers from as early as 6.30am.

One of the breakfast rice sellers met at Kampung Tengah, Nor Zakira Imana Nor Aziz, 30, said she started her business two years ago and she found demand from customers was still decent despite the monsoon season.

"So when I wake up at 4am, the first thing to come to my mind is whether there will be rain or not as I will prepare the amount food according to the weather condition to avoid wastage.

"Even though business is not as brisk compared to fair weather condition, my earning is not interrupted as there is always a steady stream of regulars looking for their favourite morning rice dishes," she said when met Bernama here on Sunday (Jan 2).

Commenting further, Nor Zakira Imana who was assisted by her husband, Hafizan Mohd Noor, 39, said she also always made sure the food was served in a clean environment for the comfort of their clients.

"It is usual for the surroundings to be different during rainy weather as customers would come in with umbrellas dripping with rainwater and muddy footwear.

"I understand the situation so I will do my best to keep my stall clean and pleasant," said Nor Zakira, who also said sales from her stall could exceed RM200 a day.

Apart from that, another breakfast rice trader in Kampung Kenor, Zuraidah Ismail, 50, felt blessed that her stall, named after her mother Siti Khadijah Dollah, was drawing many faithful customers to enjoy the delicious rice dishes and drinks at her stall to start the day.

"In normal fair weather, I could earn more than RM100 but business will be slower during the rainy season.

"However, I am still grateful, because all the rice dishes, and kuih were sold out every day," said Zuraidah who has been operating the rice stall for more than 10 years. - Bernama