THE hush at the popular Pekan Rabu market in Alor Star, Kedah, is a stark reminder to traders here of the losses they have to sustain from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since being allowed to open last Saturday under the conditional movement-control order (CMCO), there has only been a trickle of customers, despite Hari Raya being around the corner.

Food traders have had to throw away unsold stock during the MCO, while others will now slash their usual festive season orders by half as shoppers scale down their celebrations.

Restrictions on how Hari Raya can be celebrated under the CMCO has affected spending habits, traders told The Malaysian Insight.

With no large-scale open houses and visits limited to the first day only and to a maximum of 20 guests, there seems little reason for shoppers to spend like they used to in previous years.

Muhammad Aidil Haikal Zaidi, who runs a clothing stall, said he usually ordered and sold 1,000 pieces each Hari Raya season but this time, he plans to clear old stock.

“Usually, with the 1,000 pieces, we can make sales of between RM20,000 and RM30,000.

“Since we opened last Saturday, we’ve only sold one item,” said the 18-year-old who is running the store inherited from his grandfather.

Aidil said new health procedures for shoppers and retailers to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have deterred shoppers from spending on new clothes.

For example, they’re not allowed to try on the outfits before purchasing, which makes shopping for clothes difficult.

Another Pekan Rabu trader, Muhd Iqbal Saidin, 38 said the traditional food he sold turned bad while the market was closed during the MCO, which began on March 18.

“My sambal belacan, salted fish and kuih bahulu can no longer be consumed after being left here. I’ve lost RM10,000 as a result.

“I had been hoping that we would be allowed to open on the first day of Ramadan but the MCO was extended,” said Iqbal, who has four lots at the market, selling local delicacies.

“Normally, the Pekan Rabu market is popular with visitors from Perlis, Penang and Perak, who buy traditional delicacies to bring as festive gifts when they go visiting during Hari Raya.

“Usually, we open our stall even on the second day of Hari Raya so that people can by treats for their hosts.

“But this year, since open houses are not allowed, sales won’t be as good,” Iqbal said.

Unlike the profits of up to RM30,000 he makes each Hari Raya, he is only estimating RM10,000 this year.

The 88-year-old Pekan Rabu market is a major shopping destination, especially before Hari Raya, with traders carrying a wide range of handicraft, clothing, traditional foods and gifts.

After two months of closure under the MCO, it reopened with rules for shoppers and retailers, such as temperature checks and recording of shoppers’ details.

Children are not allowed to enter the market complex.

Clothes trader Samsudin Ismail said he understood and accepted the need for health precautions.

But his income is affected because of the virus outbreak.

“I don’t even dare dream of making RM5,000 this Hari Raya,” said the 57-year old, who when met at noon, had not a single sale.

He said it feels strange that the market is so quiet.

“There’s none of the usual excitement of Hari Raya this year. I just hope things can be back to normal next year.”

Other traders, like Norliza Ahmad, are hoping the management will provide a discount on lot rentals.

She has been unable to pay the RM300 for her lot for the last two months.

“I used to be able to earn RM2,000. Since we opened last Saturday, I’ve only managed to make RM500.

“I hope that either the state government or the management can give traders rental exemption or at least a discount,” said the food trader who has been operating at Pekan Rabu for 15 years.

Norliza, who sells serunding, said she will cut her order from her suppliers in Kelantan by half as she doesn’t expect sales to be good this time.

Kedah has recorded 95 infections and one death but is now a green zone after detecting no new cases. – May 20, 2020.