KOTA KINABALU – Hundreds thronged Sabah’s popular Gaya Street market, or “tamu”, when it reopened after five weeks of the movement control order (MCO) 2.0 in the state.
Established by the British in 1902, the weekend market is usually overcrowded with stalls, selling products from household goods to handicrafts, and was also a draw for visitors and tourists before the pandemic.
Farizaini Nordin, who has been operating a Gaya Street stall since 2012 with her husband Ishak Mubin, said she is relieved that stalls are allowed to reopen.
“For us, the pandemic did not quite affect our sales here. But some of our fellow operators lament the drop in business.
“This is because their goods were more focused on tourists, who are still not allowed to fly to Sabah at present, and domestic visitors who are hampered by the interstate travel ban,” said Farizaini, who sells printed artwork and toys at the market.
The street market held in the morning was supposed to be reopened the previous weekend, but was jettisoned after a viral photo showed overcrowding at the Api-Api night market, held in the same location, the night before.
Civil servant Azman Ali, who opens his stall on behalf of his elderly mother, said she had gone without income since the closure of the Gaya Street market last year.
“So, when she heard that it would be opened, she got excited and told me to make preparations,” said Azman.
Gaya Street SOPs
Since Kota Kinabalu City Hall ordered the market’s closure, it also instructed the stall operators’ association to come up with a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Gaya Street Petty Traders Association president Lee Chee Kong said the reopening of the Gaya Street market yesterday was only a trial run.
If successful, the market will be allowed to continue, he said, adding that Kota Kinabalu Mayor Noorliza Alip made her rounds to inspect compliance to SOPs.
He said Rela personnel were roped in to man the entrance, making sure visitors checked in with the MySejahtera app and recorded their body temperature.
Lee added that the crowd capacity has been set to 600 people at any one time.
“After this, the mayor will make her evaluation and allow us to operate if the SOPs are deemed a success.”
Since March 2020, the Gaya Street market has been closed for 19 weeks in total. It had reopened twice before MCO 2.0.
“Most of the stall operators were also advised to get police permits as most of them are from outside of Kota Kinabalu, such as Tuaran, Menggatal, and Penampang,” said Lee.
Noorliza told The Vibes that she was glad that the crowd at the market was under control and visitors adhere to the SOPs in place.
A total of 39 stall operators with 214 stalls opened at the Gaya Square lot, she said.
People could be seen queuing up at the registration area before making their way into the market.
Stall operators said the crowd was much smaller compared with before the pandemic. – The Vibes, March 1, 2021
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