THERE’S less buzz and excitement at pasar malam and more cumbersome procedures to follow, but traders and consumers are equally happy to be back.

For traders, many are glad to be earning an income again, while shoppers are happy at the sight of favourite foods like apam balik.

Pasar malam were allowed to reopen last week under the recovery movement-control order and a visit to a few found traders diligently observing the health standard operating procedures issued by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Rela members are on hand to record people’s contact details, carry out temperature checks and dispense hand sanitiser before anyone can enter the site, which now has a strict one-way flow of foot traffic.

“I’m thrilled my pasar malam is back,” said a customer, who gave her name as Jenny, at the SS2 pasar malam on Monday.

“I haven’t eaten the satay and apam balik (pancakes) here for three months. And I can now get my weekly vegetable supply and other favourite foods instead of going to the supermarket. It saves me time and money,” said the 54-year-old.

At the Nilai Perdana pasar malam in Nilai, Negri Sembilan which opened last Thursday, drinks seller Mohd Salleh Masran, 42, said he volunteered to be a “gatekeeper” at the entrance because his stall is the first lot.

Salleh took the temperatures of shoppers and squirted sanitiser on their hands, as well as reminding some people not to allow children under 12 and adults above 60 to enter the area.

“These are the SOP given by the local council that we have to follow if we want to operate the market.

“Some people also came without a mask and I advised them to use one the next time they come,” the 42-year-old trader told The Malaysian Insight at the market.

Salleh, however, was only one of six traders at the pasar malam last week after a three-month break.

“Only six stalls started as others weren’t too sure about opening now. Maybe they will open in a week or two, probably after they feel more comfortable.  

“The six of us who have started are desperate for some income again,” said the trader who also operates at the Taman Cempaka Nilai pasar malam, known as the pasar malam in Nilai, every Friday.

Salleh said enforcement officers from the Nilai Municipal Council came to make a random inspection to check if the health SOP is followed.

At the SS2 Petaling Jaya pasar malam, biscuit and cookies trader Gan Chow Leong said he did not mind the SOP as he was just relieved to be back in business after three months.

“I never thought the MCO would go on for so long, after it was imposed in March. With the SOP now, at least we can start our business.

“The SOP is in place now and I’m happy that at last the council allowed us to start our business without further delay.”

Gan, who has worked as a pasar malam trader for the last 25 years, said he had no alternative jobs during the three-month MCO and had to depend on money given by his children. He estimates the three-month MCO as costing him RM15,000.

Besides operating in SS2, Gan also has permits to operate in Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and Klang, but has so far only received approval to resume business at the SS2 and Shah Alam pasar malam.

The SS2 pasar malam, which normally operates every Monday only, will now be operating on Monday and Tuesday to accommodate social distancing for stalls and give all traders an opportunity to do business.

Another SS2 pasar malam trader, who only wanted to be known as Choo, 55, is grateful that MBPJ opened the market as none of the other pasar malam he operates at have granted approval.

“Happy to be back here doing business after more than three months of just sitting at home.”

Choo said it would take time for pasar malam to reach their peak again as people are still wary about gathering at crowded places.

“Usually by 6pm, the pasar malam will be very crowded but now it is not the same.

“I think the people are also afraid to come to crowded areas. So, it will take some time for everything to come back to normal.”

The mood is also quieter at the Nilai Perdana night market, where customer Razman said the whole atmosphere felt “dead” with fewer stalls than usual due to social distancing. – June 24, 2020.