IN the past, business was usually brisk for traders at the Kuala Terengganu bus terminal during the Hari Raya period.

However, with the opening of new supermarkets in the city as well as with the economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19, business activities at the terminal have become increasingly slow.

Traders told The Malaysian Insight that the situation got worse as a result of the lockdowns enforced to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lockdown resulted in them losing their income completely and incurring huge rental debts in the two-storey complex owned by Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT).

They consist of artisans who specialise in making baju Melayu and baju kurung, altering clothes, repairing shoes and crafting accessories out of silver and gemstones.

One of the traders, Mohd Shah Abdul Ghani, 40, said business was so bad that the majority of them are now saddled with cumulated stall rental debt.

“Sales have gone down by about 80% and many stall owners afford to pay rent, although it costs only RM140 a month,” he said.

Shah, who is also secretary of the Hawkers and Petty Traders Association for the terminal branch, has been running his business in the building since 2010.

He said the current situation is worrying as they risk their stalls being seized by MBKT.

Tailor Mohd Alamin Jais said the period before Hari Raya was usually the busiest time for him because people will get clothing alteration done.

Alamin, 50, who is disabled in both hands, said his business had been deteriorating over the past five years.

“In the past, my income could reach RM2,000 a month, but in recent years, I have only earned about RM500 a month.

“During the lockdowns in the past two years, there was no income at all because I had to stop my business. During this time, I got help from the Social Welfare Department, so I managed to survive,” he said.

Alamin, who had been plying his trade in the complex for the past 15 years, added that another reason for the lack of a crowd was because the bus terminal had no parking area for cars.

“Customers always complain that they find it difficult to come because of parking problems. So like it or not, I have to send their jeans to the car.

“Otherwise, it will be difficult for people to come here. For now I can only depend on existing customers,” said Alamin, who charged as low as RM5 to alter a pair of pants.

Alamin added that he could not afford to move his business elsewhere because this would incur higher rent.

“I think it’s impossible for me to rent another place because the rental is expensive. I can’t afford to pay that much. That does not include the cost of moving, like renting a truck to transfer goods.

“Even with the current rent of RM140, I am struggling to pay. But no matter what, I will still try to pay the rent, I don’t want arrears with my shop rent,” he said.

Terminal needs a new lease of life

Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Muhsin Mohamed said the complex started operating in 2015 and had 400 units of stalls, but now only half of them are occupied due to low visitor traffic.

He said traders had been struggling to maintain their businesses due to various factors.

He said apart from the parking woes, the complex has now lost its appeal, especially to outsiders.

“One reason is there are no signboards so outsiders don’t really know there are shops here. They are only aware that this is a bus terminal.

“Then the parking problem. Customers do not have parking so anyone who comes here will often get a summons. So they get discouraged and go elsewhere,” he said.

Muhsin, who has had a restaurant business since 2015, said the sales could reach RM300 to RM400 a day in the past but now his income has dropped by 70%.

“Now it is very difficult. During the lockdowns, we had zero business.

“This place is neither alive nor dead, maybe just waiting for its time (to close),” he said.

Muhsin said the association had raised its concerns over the loss of business with the local council.

“Before this, there was a proposal from MBKT to renovate the building. But there was no plan to put in a parking area while that is what the traders had demanded for.

“So the traders rejected the proposed renovation. After all, the traders were also worried that if MBKT renovated the place, the rent would also increase, while there is no guarantee that business will recover.

“So MBKT has still done nothing, making the situation as gloomy as we see now.” – April 29, 2022.