Spoilt for choice: Customers buying ingredients for Hari Raya Aidilfitri at Batu Lanchang Market, Penang. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: When you are the designated cook for a clan of 14, the minimalist approach just won’t work. That is why housewife Zana Yacob, 46, was seen loading up on vegetables, fish and poultry at the Taman Tun Sardon market to prepare for the Hari Raya feast.
“I am doing all the cooking and they will do the eating,” she smiled. “Hopefully, my siblings will pitch in and help cut some vegetables.”
Zana.But Zana has no qualms about cooking up a storm for them.
“It has to be a spread. Besides the seven of us at home, my siblings are joining in as well, as they are in town. They have arrived from Kuala Lumpur.”
Zana said she did not mind spending time preparing for the feast as it was all about being together as a family.
“I bought some fish to make curry and ‘ikan tiga rasa’ (sweet, sour and spicy fish), and some chicken to make chilli chicken,” she said yesterday.
Zana found that the prices of some vegetables had gone up.
“I guess it’s due to demand. Everyone wants turmeric leaves and petai, so they are pricier. But most of the necessary vegetables are under the price control list. And since Raya is just once a year, it is okay to spend a little extra on the other stuff,” she said.
Programme manager Shaharin Shah Abdul Gany, 34, had a shopping list prepared by his wife.
“We will have rendang on the first day of Raya,” he said, adding that he noticed a price increase in certain goods during festive periods.
“It did not go up by much, maybe RM1 or RM2. So, it is manageable. And at the end of the day, we need these items. So, like it or not, we have to buy them.
“It is all about being together and enjoying the celebrations, so spending a bit more is okay as it is for food.”
Shaharin said he would be catering the majority of the food for his extended family’s celebration
“But on the first day, my wife will cook,” he said.
Fishmonger Muhammad Eddie Hakim Badrul Ashraft, 26, said controlled prices on fish like sardines and mackerel had made it easier for many consumers as they could be used to make laksa and other dishes.
“In general, the price of fish has gone up over the past few years, so people have no choice but to spend more. We ensure that fish is fresh and the price reasonable as we do not want to burden customers,” he said.
S. Gayathiri, 34, who sells vegetables at the Batu Lanchang market, said that essential vegetables are under price control for the Hari Raya season. The ones that are not under price control have become pricier due to the demand, she said.
“Prices of turmeric leaves, petai and lemongrass have gone up drastically over the past few days.
“They are high in demand, so the supply is limited.”
