MANY pasar malam traders have decided to close their businesses after suffering losses following the slump in sales prompted by ongoing Covid-19 fears among the people, associations said.

These traders were largely from the non-food business sector, and have claimed to not receive any form of government assistance to help them tide over the difficult period.

The Federation of Hawkers’ and Petty Traders’ Association Malaysia president Yow Boon Choon told The Malaysian Insight that pasar malam could only retain 50% of their business since operations were allowed on June 15 following the relaxing of the movement-control order.

“Undeniably, after the third outbreak, the crowd decreased significantly.

“The hawkers could only survive on a daily basis from a day’s business. The government said that assistance will be provided to the hawkers, but there was nothing,” he said.

“Hawkers would rather not set up stalls to work, they opt for other paying jobs than ‘slapping flies’ at the pasar malam.

“In the past, hawkers could make RM300 to RM400 a day, but now only RM100 to RM200 a day. And not all hawkers will have business, only those who sell cooked food, while those selling daily necessities and clothes are being ignored.”

He said business did improve after June, but once the third outbreak hit, the crowds went missing. At least 20% of the vendors have gone online to sell their goods but the money earned was not enough to cover the overhead.

However, hawkers in different regions are having different outcomes.

Though there has been a drop in business in Johor, where traders rely on Singaporean tourists, pasar malam in the central region is faring better, with half of its business dependent on locals.

Changing consumer habits

The Negri Sembilan Association for Hawkers and Night Market Traders president Lee Teong Chwee said confirmed Covid-19 cases in the state came from targeted areas.

Therefore, people from residential areas still shopped at pasar malam.

However, under the new normal, consumer habits have changed as people no longer linger around but are often purposeful with a to-buy list.

“In the past, they may not purchase anything when they visit the pasar malam. But now, people will definitely buy and leave right away.

“In fact, the cooked food businesses started to improve in the last two weeks, which saw sales rebounded by 80%.

“However, only the food business saw improvement, other necessities such as clothing and shoe stalls had no customers. People would rather go to the mall for those items.”

With that, more food stalls are burgeoning in Negri Sembilan pasar malam.

Kuala Lumpur Mobile Hawkers’ Association president Lim Suai Chai said that the pasar malam business in Kuala Lumpur has gradually improved after cross-state travel is permissible.

“Many pasar malam, such as in Taman Connaught, saw crowds and the hawker business recovered by 70% to 80%. During October and November, the hawker business had fallen by 50%.”

He said that under the new normal, the hawkers opened early, and customers often leave the pasar malam right after they had bought their food.

“The hawkers close their stalls by 8pm to 9pm. In the past, the closing time was at 10pm. This is understandable. After all, not many people head out to buy things during the pandemic.

“The hawkers can only stock half or 80% of the previous amount and dare not prepare too much food.”

He said that people would rather go to air-conditioned shopping malls and reduce trips to the pasar malam.

However, he hopes more people will visit the pasar malam during Christmas and the New Year.

“Many are willing to spend money after receiving a salary at the end of the month.” – December 26, 2020.