SABAH and Sarawak communities are still enthusiastic to buy and sell various “sungkai/sungkei” (fast-breaking food) at Ramadan bazaars while adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOP) that have been set to curb the spread of the disease. 

Bernama surveys at Ramadan bazaars in both states found that although the country has entered the transition to the endemic phase, which commenced on Friday, traders and visitors were still practising precautionary measures for the safety of all parties.

The Ramadan bazaars in Asia City and Lintasan Deasoka in Kota Kinabalu are among the 16 bazaars in the city that have prepared MySejahtera QR codes for visitors to enter the bazaar, besides ensuring that traders and visitors wear their masks at all times.

Operating from 2pm to 7pm, both bazaars are monitored by police to ensure visitors and traders continue to abide by the SOP, 

In Sarawak, state Assistant Utilities and Communications Minister Abdul Rahman Junaidi said this year, the Kuching North City Hall has prepared 69 stalls at two bazaars, namely, in the Mydin Samariang compound and Satok area, to ensure traders and visitors practise proper physical distancing. 

“Despite receiving flexibility from the Health Ministry and state Disaster Management Committee for the organisation of the Ramadan bazaar, the SOP must be complied with,” he said after officiating the Ramadan bazaar in the Mydin compound.

Meanwhile, a trader at the bazaar, Salleh Ahmad, 45, said the opportunity to sell at the bazaar gave him much relief as he can gain more income now after so long of the bazaar being closed.

Another bazaar visitor, Salbia Iri, 76, said she is thankful the atmosphere has returned to normal even though the variety of food sold by traders is markedly narrower compared with the years before the pandemic. – Bernama, April 3, 2022.