BY VIVYNNA ANN CHABU & NURFARAHIN OKI
KUCHING: The Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Ramadan Bazaars have officially opened for business last Tuesday, the first day of Ramadan until April 9.
Similar to previous years, Satok, Semarak and Sukma Ria are three Ramadan Bazaar sites that are provided by DBKU.
This year, the opening of Semarak Ramadan Bazaar was launched by Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, the chief political secretary to the Sarawak Premier and Tupong assemblyman with a total of 45 food operators taking part in the yearly event.
New Sarawak Tribune interviewed a few hawkers and visitors regarding their expectations, types of food that they are scouting for and feeling about this year’s Ramadan.
NURATIQAH YAKUP, 28
Hawker
It has been five years since I start selling Mac and Cheese regularly and it has only been two years since I start selling it here at the Semarak Ramadan bazaar. I am excited to have the opportunity to do business here and I am expecting many more customers to patronise my stall this year.
SITI SURAYA HOSEN, 53
Hawker
I am helping out my niece to sell these drinks and we had been selling drinks for the past 22 years. Our special beverages during Ramadan are sugar cane, jelly coconut and ice cream soda which we rarely sell during normal days.
RABIAH MOHD KADERI, 39
Hawker
Stall Mak Elis is a family business that started from my mum and passed down to me. I have been following and helping my mum managing this business since a teenager. During Ramadan, the most famous dishes among customers are the ‘umai ikan pirang’, ‘bubur pedas’, ‘acar’, and ‘ikan masin masak lemak’. Our signature dish is the ‘paun daging’, a bread with beef filling (looks similar to a sandwich) and it is grilled on a hot grill pan.
MOHAMMAD FAIEQ FUDHAIL MOHAMAD SAIFULDIN, 18
Student
This bazaar is close to my school and it is easier for us to just come here and look for food. It is my first time breaking fast away from home and I am hoping for “roti john” to aid me later on.
MOHD FIRDAUS IBRAHIM, 37
Senior executive of climate risk and analysis
I was born and raised in Gita, so this Semarak Bazaar is like a must go place for us aside from other bazaars. I am breaking fast with my mother today and her house is just near this bazaar. For me, the prices of food offered here are quite expensive that is why I just prefer to cook at home but since I am running late today, I was thinking to find something that is special for breaking fast. ‘Kuih Bongkol’, for instance, because I think it is one of the delicacies that people will find during this holy month.
ANGELINA MICHELLE, 21
Student
Ramadan Bazaar is a yearly thing and I think it brings the community together while showing how diverse our community is. As a Chinese I try to include myself in the community and in our area here, all of us are quite close where we often help each other out on any occasion. I think my expectation for this Ramadan Bazaar has already been fulfilled where the traffic here is less busy than usual, and I do fancy the kebab and the roasted mutton sold at one of these stalls.
