Traders laud decision on allowing bazaars to open

PETALING JAYA: The government’s decision to allow Ramadan bazaars to operate this year is welcomed as it will help 1.8 million traders nationwide.

Shah Alam and Klang Bumiputera Night Market Traders Association president Kamarul Nizam Razak said he was grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement that Ramadan bazaars would be allowed to operate this year.

Kamarul Nizam expressed hope that traders would be allowed to conduct business all 30 days of the holy month, as opposed to last year, when all Ramadan bazaars in districts under the movement control order in Selangor had to close down after 25 days due to Covid-19 concerns.

“We are grateful and thankful that Ramadan bazaars will be opened this year. We will follow any standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the government.

“This year, we are very hopeful that we will be able to operate fully for all 30 days of the month. Last year, we only managed to open for 25 days before the state ordered us to stop operating due to Covid-19 cases,” he said when contacted yesterday.

On what SOP he hoped would be introduced or axed this year, Kamarul Nizam said previously determined SOP was good enough and needed no additions.

“This is because traders are already used to following safety measures such as enforcing physical distancing and using the services of the People’s Volunteers Corps (Rela) and our association members to do crowd control at the night markets.

“We have also been limiting the number of customers at any one time. For example, if there are 50 traders at one site, the number of customers allowed is only 100,” he said, adding that adherence to the SOP would not be an issue.

Petty Traders Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman also welcomed the government’s decision to allow Ramadan bazaars to operate this year as this would help them earn a living.

“This will help the 1.8 million traders nationwide and alleviate their burden, as well as help them earn a living to support their families,” he said.

Rosli said an early announcement to allow Ramadan bazaars would help traders prepare and plan ahead.

“Traders will be able to find ingredients at reasonable prices. If it is announced at the last minute, it will make traders rush to get them. This will drive prices up,” he added.