KUALA LUMPUR: After a year of absence due to Covid-19 restrictions, Ramadan bazaar traders finally began welcoming customers yesterday, albeit on a much restrained note as heavy rain and thunderstorms kept most customers away.
The New Straits Times observed that most traders either had to close early or wait for the downpour to pass.
At the bazaar in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, regular food trader Nurul Huda Fuad, known for her "Murtabak Raja", said business was slower than usual.
"It's around 50 per cent down. In 2019, we would have double this crowd and the queues would be forming," she said at her stall.
She said when she migrated her business online last year, the profits were relatively small.
"It was extremely time consuming and the delivery cost was expensive. This (physical business) is still the best and most feasible way to earn money."
Mohamad Zuhri Sha'ari, 45, who was seen reinforcing his tent from the strong wind, said his business was at least 30 per cent lower than in previous years.
However, he was thankful that he could set up his stall again, come rain or shine, because he really needed the income.
"I have five children aged 1 to 17. All of them need to eat and this is my full-time business. Last year, I had to stay home for three months, so imagine going without an income for so long," he said.
Marketing manager Syarifah Sakinah Al-Junid said the crowd was compliant with the standard operating procedures (SOP) that were in place at the bazaar.
"There is some room for improvement (to ensure the SOP is followed), where some of the popular stalls should have clear markings on the ground to indicate the required physical distancing."
Sales executive Nurul Aniza Ramlan, 31, and her friend, Noor Atikah Mohd Zulkafli, said they enjoyed the more "relaxed" atmosphere at the bazaar.
"The bazaar would usually be packed by 3pm in previous years, but that's not the case today. There is much room to move about.
"We could get our murtabak and roti john easily, even though there was a bit of queuing due to the SOP, which could be due to today being the first day of Ramadan," said the two friends who work in a company nearby.
A total of 180 stalls were expected to open at the bazaar today, and at its peak at around 4pm yesterday, it had a crowd of 250 people including traders.
Based on observations, the bazaar's entry and exit points could be improved by installing more barricades.
On the number of people allowed into the bazaar at any one time, Taman Tun Dr Ismail Pasar Malam Association chairman Abdul Hadi Mustafa said there was no such restriction on visitors.
On cases of "rambo" or illegal traders operating outside the perimeter, he said it was a matter for Kuala Lumpur City Hall to deal with.
Hadi also dismissed questions on whether traders had taken a swab test for Covid-19 before opening their stalls.
On the requirement to wear face masks, he said there was 99 per cent compliance among visitors and traders.
At the Kampung Baru bazaar, traders and business operators were seen observing the SOP issued by the National Security Council.
Adhering to the SOP was part of the requirements that came with the blessing to operate their businesses, said trader Ariffin Azhar, 46.
"Last year, many traders like myself were badly affected and struggled to make ends meet. Business was slow and some of us couldn't even get much income.
"Thank God, we are allowed to open this year. While daily cases are still more than a thousand, it is important that we follow the SOP. It is part of our survival now," said Ariffin, who sells snacks.
He expressed gratitude to the authorities for allowing them to operate under strict guidelines.
Ariffin observed that people were diligently following the SOP by wearing face masks and not converging at any one place.
"However, if we compare the crowd and that of 2019, there are fewer people now. I hope more shoppers will come in the days to come."
Trader Noraini Mohd was also grateful for the opportunity to operate despite the tight SOP.
"Traders at Kampung Baru made it a point to remind each other of the SOP, just in case it slips off our mind as we're busy running our business.
"My neighbouring stalls on both sides have agreed that we will look out for each other just in case we forget to follow the SOP. We also agreed to remind the customers too.
"The last thing we need is a new cluster sparked from a Ramadan bazaar just because some people were negligent," she said.
In preparation for her sales yesterday, Noraini said she had prepared half the amount of food she usually sold.
"It is hard to predict if the crowd will return and I didn't want to waste food. So I decided to cook less today," she said.
In George Town, the Penang government will decide whether to allow Ramadan bazaars to continue operating in the event there is a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the authorities, particularly the National Security Council (NSC), would also monitor the situation nationwide daily.
"Since the green light has been given for the Ramadan bazaars to operate, the authorities are constantly monitoring the situation. I am sure that if the situation goes out of control, then a decision will have to be made.
"And, here in the state, we will be forced to decide if the Covid-19 cases originating from bazaars begin to spike," he said while visiting the Penang Muslim League's Ramadan bazaar in Lebuh Queen here.
Checks at the Ramadan bazaar found that SOP had been put in place, such as scanning the MySejahtera QR Code, a logbook for manual registration and temperature checks.
At least four Rela personnel were deployed to control the crowd, with about 50 people allowed in at any one time.
According to Penang Muslim League president Datuk Haja Najmudeen Kader, they only allowed 24 stalls to operate this time to ensure physical distancing compared with 34 previously.
Najmudeen, in thanking the authorities for allowing the Ramadan bazaars to operate, said they would ensure compliance at their bazaars.
"This time around it is more challenging amid the pandemic. Nevertheless, we will do what we can to ensure compliance with the SOP," he said.
The Kelantan government announced on Sunday that Ramadan bazaars would not be allowed to operate in the state this fasting month due to an increase in Covid-19 cases locally.
The state government also said it would not allow tarawih prayers, or locally known as Madinah Ramadan, to be held.