Kuala Lumpur: Every year during the fasting month, Ramadan bazaars nationwide continue to be a major attraction for the public to buy various types of food, whether traditional or modern, for the breaking of fast.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, it’s no different in the capital city, with the Ramadan bazaar at Kampung Baru being one of the most popular locations among city folks. Many took advantage of the first day of this year’s Ramadan, which coincidentally fell on a weekend, to visit the bazaar.
A visitor, 26-year-old Damia, expressed her excitement and appreciation for the bazaar’s size and cleanliness. “This is my first time coming to the Kampung Baru bazaar… it is very big. So far, the food prices are very reasonable and it’s clean. It’s also not crowded, so I can walk around leisurely and look for food,” she said.
In Selangor, visitors began converging on the Shah Alam Stadium Ramadan Bazaar at 3 pm despite its 4 pm to 8 pm operating hours. The iconic bazaar, though relocated from its previous site around the Shah Alam Stadium before its demolition last year, still managed to attract a large number of visitors shopping for iftar meals.
In Putrajaya, the atmosphere at the Presint 3 Ramadan Bazaar, which has 290 stalls, was lively as members of the public turned up as early as 4 pm to buy dishes for breaking the fast. The survey also noted the growing awareness about environmental protection as many visitors brought recyclable bags.
Meanwhile, in Kedah, the first day of Ramadan being declared a public holiday in the state provided the public an opportunity to visit the Simpang Empat Ramadan Bazaar near Alor Setar, with some visitors arriving as early as 4 pm to browse and buy various iftar foods and drinks.
In Johor, despite light rain, residents visited the Ramadan bazaar at Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Bahru, turning up as early as 4 pm to get dishes including martabak and roti john, popular among visitors.
In Sarawak, the Satok Ramadan bazaar remained a favorite, with a survey on the first day of Ramadan finding it packed with visitors. Although food prices increased by RM1 to RM2, they did not deter visitors from seeking out traditional cakes available only during Ramadan.
In Tawau, Sabah, the Bataras Ramadan bazaar in Batu 3 was popular among residents looking for dishes to break their fast, with many opting for traditional cakes, bubur pisang hijau, burasak, and nasi kuning berlauk.
In Terengganu, a survey found a slight increase in food prices compared to last year due to rising raw material costs, with chicken prices rising from RM26 to RM28 per chicken, ikan percik from RM8 to RM10 per fish, and traditional cakes from RM3 to RM4 per pack.
In Kelantan, a drinks seller at the Taman Bendahara Bazaar in Pengkalan Chepa, 51-year-old Karimah Yusoff, said he sells about 20 types of drinks at RM4 per pack, including coconut water, apple juice, corn juice, and other beverages. Despite a slight increase in the price of goods including cordial and condensed milk, he continued selling drinks at the same price as previous years.