Bazaar hawkers face many challenges

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The air is thick with the scent of sizzling meat, sweet drinks and deep-fried chickens.Desa Ilmu’s Ramadan bazaar is in full swing, drawing in hungry visitors just before the breaking of fast.But behind the lively scene, hawkers here face a daily battle not just to sell their food but to survive the unpredictable rhythm of the bazaar.

For Ahmad Fahim, a cashier at Acik Hot Chicken, the biggest challenge isn’t the crowd but the weather.“The rain has been making things really difficult for us sometimes. With heavy downpours, the ground is flooded and customers don’t want to walk through puddles just to get to our stall.



Ahmad “It’s also dangerous for us because we’re standing here for hours and the wet floor is slippery”, he says.And then, there’s the heat.“We’re fasting while working in high temperatures.

With the smell of the food and constant movements, it’s exhausting. But we have to push through,” he adds.Despite this, Acik Hot Chicken has found success with its Set A, which comprises two crispy chicken pieces and fries.

Its new chicken tenders, available in both original and spicy flavours are also becoming a surprise hit among customers.However, not every day at the bazaar is a good one.Siti Mardiah Redzuan, owner of MK Premium, says uncertainty is part of the business.

Siti Mardiah “Some days, we get a lot of customers but some days, it’s quiet. There’s no guarantee”, she explains.But one thing is clear — her Vanilla Blue drink is a bestseller.

“It’s the first thing to sell out. People love it”, she says.To keep sales going, she goes into a creative mode, offering promotions such as RM6 for one plastic cup of the drink or RM10 for two cups to encourage more customers to buy in bulk.

“We have to find ways to attract people. Otherwise, we risk losing money on slow days”, Siti tells Sarawak Tribune.For 18-year-old Aleesya Uzma, a cashier at Ali Kebab, the hardest part is dealing with bad weather.

Aleesya shows her kebab products.“When it rains, fewer people come. We just have to hold on and keep selling”, she says.

But the moment the sky is clear, the customers flood in, and when they do, their best-selling chicken kebabs fly off the grill!Like many hawkers here, she has learned that persistence is a must.“We’re here come rain or shine because this is our livelihood and we just keep inviting people to come, no matter what,” she says.The Desa Ilmu Ramadan Bazaar is more than just a place to buy food — it’s a space where small business owners fight to make a living.

Whether it’s through promotions, battling the heat, or simply waiting out the rain, these hawkers are pushing through every challenge for one reason. They know that when ‘iftar’ comes, their food will bring people together..