Sandakan’s Ramadan bazaar a ‘lifesaver’ for sellers 

SANDAKAN – The overwhelming response to the Ramadan bazaar in Sandakan town had hundreds of sellers breathing a sigh of relief. They can look forward to relative normalcy after two hard years during the pandemic. 

Shocked by the unexpected sales, a bread and bun seller here, Julhari Wahiddin said that 10 trays of the pastries he brought were almost sold out by 5pm. This was only two hours after he opened his stall on the first day of Ramadan, yesterday. 

The 43-year-old said that he has been running a small bakery business for 10 years, but had never suffered as badly as during the pandemic as his sales relied 100% on open markets. 

“We do not own a shop; we sell in Kim Fung night market, town morning market, and food stalls in residential areas. So during the movement control orders when we were not allowed to operate, our business suffered a tremendous loss," said the father of five.

“It was a dark time; I had never imagined that I would ever need to worry about putting food on the table for the family until the pandemic came. 

“That is why I am extremely grateful this year to be able to start operating in Ramadan bazaar here, not to mention the overwhelming sales on the very first day,” he said. 

Julhari, when met at the bazaar selling buns with his wife, said that he hopes that this means that the “darkest period” in his life is finally over. 

“The way I think has changed. Back in the days when I operate a stall in the Ramadan bazaar, I would be thinking of what I would do with the extra money that I earn. Now, I am just grateful to Allah for giving me a chance to have money to buy food for my family,” he said. 

Due to the pandemic, Ramadan bazaars had been prohibited in Sabah for two years – 2020 and 2021. 

With the locals possibly looking for Ramadan “vibes”, visitors thronged the Sandakan town bazaar, which is the largest, from as early as 5pm, yesterday. 

A terang bulan, or apam balik, dessert seller, Sumarni Mohd Noor, 48, is another happy seller who had encouraging sales yesterday.  

She only sells three food – terang bulan, corn buns, and corn in cups. She brought about 200 corn buns yesterday which were sold out by 3pm, only about an hour after she opened her stall. 

“We had been participating in Ramadan bazaar here (Sandakan town) for many years but had to stop for two years due to the pandemic. 

“We were sceptical about the sales this time because we were unsure about the people’s buying power since almost everyone has been financially affected by the pandemic. 

“But the response today was shockingly good. We did not expect so many people to come,” she said. 

Like Julhari, Sumarni is grateful that the government has allowed bazaars to operate. She said she desperately needs to earn an income for her family during this difficult time. 

The Vibes learned that Ramadan bazaars in Sejati Walk Mile 7 and Bandar Utama Mile 6 here had also received overwhelming responses from the locals. – The Vibes, April 4, 2022