Counting down: Staff putting up the banners for their upcoming Ramadan bazaar located at the open space area in Prangin Mall, George Town, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: With Ramadan just days away, foodies will be spoilt for choice with 94 bazaars set to offer a variety of mouth-watering dishes for buka puasa (breaking fast) in Penang.
On the island, 41 bazaars have been approved, while in the mainland, there will be 53 Ramadan fairs.
Penang Island City councillor Tan Soo Siang said there were 42 applications this year, but one was rejected due to the location that was not appropriate for stalls to be set up because it could cause congestion.
“The largest Ramadan bazaar on the island boasts 200 stalls at the Pesta ground and the smallest one will have just 10 stalls located along Lebuh Sungai Pinang,” she said.Tan said the standard operating procedure included a condition where the area must be kept clean before, during and after business.“Trash bins must be provided and vendors must wear aprons and use head coverings.
“Stalls must not be manned or assisted by foreigners and must not use polystyrene containers for the food,” she said, adding the violators would be issued with compounds and blacklisted for next year’s bazaar.
On the mainland, Seberang Perai City councillor Zainuddin Mohamed said of the 58 applications this year, five were rejected due to traffic, location, public objection or other technical issues.
Of the approved ones, he said 45 are Juadah bazaars for iftar (breaking fast) food while the remaining eight are Aidilfitri bazaars that also sell clothes and other products.
Zainuddin said the largest Juadah bazaar would be the Bazaar Ramadan Ban Busuk in Kubang Semang with 170 stalls and the largest Aidilfitri bazaar would be held in Midtown Kubang Menerong with 392 stalls.
“There will be small ones as well like the Juadah bazaar in Permatang Sintok with only 10 stalls and the Aidilfitri bazaar at Lotus Seberang Jaya with 30 stalls,” he added.
Ramadan is expected to start on March 12.
