NIGHT market traders in the Klang Valley are still struggling for business, and they predicted it would take about two years for the situation to return to pre-pandemic normal.

Junaini Idris, 42, who sells apparels at the Seksyen 27 night market in Shah Alam, said business was only 30% of what it used o be

“Personally I think it will take about two more years for the business to get back to what it was before.

“I’ll be happy even if t gets back to 50% but that does not seem to be happening,” said Junaini who’s been a vendor for 10 years.

“Nowadays people don’t come to night markets to buy clothes, they prefer to shop online.

“Customers find that it’s more convenient to shop online and safer as the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing,” she said.

The government allowed night markets to open in January following the relaxation of movement restrictions. Business hours, however, are limited to 4pm to 10pm.

Drinks seller Danial Dollah, 19, said business was slowly picking up.

“My business is half of what it used to be. I think it will still take about two to three years before it gets back to 100%,” said Danial, who runs a stall at the Pasar Malam Seksyen 19 in Shah Alam.

Danial said he was grateful business is good in Shah Alam compared to the night markets in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

“From what I know, night markets in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur are not doing that great.”

Fishmonger at the Sentul night market, Ahmad Hariz, 29, said business was inconsistent these days.

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years but since the lockdown, business has not been not good.

“Some days we make money, some days we barely make any,” said Ahmad.

“Everything is expensive now but salaries are low so people don’t often come to buy now.

Fruiterer Sue Wong, 58, who has a stall at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail night market in Kuala Lumpur, said she barely makes any profit.

“I have not increased my prices for over 10 years so my profit margin is even smaller now.

“I sell what I can and hopefully it’s enough to feed my family,” said Sue, who has been a vendor for 20 years.

“About 10% of my fruits go to waste almost every day.”

K. Kugen said he only makes about RM80-RM100 a day selling phone accessories.

“I’ve been selling gadgets here for almost a year since the lockdown was lifted.

“But people tend to buy these items online instead,” said Kugen, whose stall is at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail night market.

Kugen said he got retrenched from his previous job as a tour guide during the pandemic.

Earlier this week, Kuala Lumpur Night Market Association (PMKL) secretary Charles James Roy said traders who have stayed shut at the night markets  in Kuala Lumpur risk losing their trading licence.

“Since April, night markets have been allowed to open. However, several night markets have been seeing a poor trader turnout,” he said. – August 7, 2022.