FOOD vendors are eagerly waiting for the reopening of pasar malam next week, so they no longer have to do business “illegally” by the roadside to earn an income.

They have been forced to set up their roadside stalls after pasar malam around the country were ordered closed under the movement-control order (MCO) that started on March 18.

The government has now allowed pasar malam, pasar pagi and bazar ria to operate again from June 15 at certain times and on certain conditions.

Selangor has told traders they will not be able to employ foreigners and each stall can only have a maximum of three people, including the owner.

Those under the age of 12 will not be allowed and consumers are advised to shop quickly although no time limit has been set.

All entering the pasar malam areas have to wear masks and observe social distancing.

Generally, operating hours have been set from 4pm to 10pm.

Similar arrangements are also being made by other state governments for their pasar malam traders.

Fried chicken seller Akmal Razali said he had no choice but to sell by the roadside during the MCO to make money.

“We are pasar malam traders. But since there was no approval from the local authorities, we were like homeless people with no place to do business.

“So, any place by the road that we can sell food, we set up our stall. We only have licences for pasar malam,” said Akmal, 35, at his booth in Klang.

The same issue was raised by another pasar malam hawker, Mohd Yusof Baharom, 36, who sold traditional kuih on a sidewalk in Shah Alam.

He said sales were not as encouraging as before although they have been operating for more than two weeks.

“I’ve been selling food here since the second day of Hari Raya, but sales have not been as good as selling at pasar malam.

“We had more customers there and we don’t just go to one or two pasar malam,” he said.

Selangor vendors also have another problem – there are two sets of standard operating procedures (SOP) for them to adhere to, one set by the state government and the other by Putrajaya.

“We are in limbo, no notice has been given by the local council but we hope that whatever they do, they will not burden us. Hawkers have been badly affected,” he said.

Under the federal government’s SOP, pasar malam can only operate from 4pm to 10pm, while morning markets from 6am to 11am and bazar ria from 5pm to 11pm.

Stalls must be set between 1.5m and 2m apart, and there will be only one entry and exit.

In Selangor, pasar malam and bazar ria will also be allowed to reopen in stages starting June 15.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said each local authority should coordinate with the SOP issued by the National Security Council (MKN).

When contacted, his office said it will issue SOP for pasar malam operations, morning markets and bazaars soon.

Poor business

Roadside stall operators, meanwhile, said their business has not been good.

“There are fewer customers. It has reduced by more than half. Maybe the situation is still new, or maybe many have lost their jobs,” said Saonah Ishya, 44, from Klang.

Another hawker, Zainun Muhammad, who sells goreng pisang and cucur udang, said she is grateful as long as she can make some money.

Zainun, 62, used to sell fried food in Shah Alam but relocated to Klang as local authorities there refused to issue licences to small hawkers.

“The Shah Alam City Council does not want to issue licences, they asked us to open a shop but how can we afford it?

“That is why I moved to Klang, even though we had to reduce our prices but we could not ask for more. Better than having nothing.

“My son’s friend even said he wants to help apply for a licence at the Klang Municipal Council,” said Zainun, who uses a wheelchair.

Zainun said the MCO period was a difficult time as she lost additional income to support her adopted child.

“I can’t walk, I am using a wheelchair now. But I am working as a hawker to support my adopted child, an orphan who is now sitting for SPM.

“You have to pay for school, tuition fees, books, and lots of other expenses. There is help from the Welfare Department and alms, but it’s not enough,” said Zainun who has been a hawker for more than 30 years. – June 15, 2020.