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The food business in Malaysia thrives in Ramadan
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By
Kazi Mahmood, IOL South East Asia correspondent
KUALA
LUMPUR, November 14 (IslamOnline) – Before the sun rises, Shamsiah is
always in a hurry, heading for the markets in the city center in Kuala
Lumpur to make provisions for fish, prawns and crabs in order to prepare
food for iftar in her small “curry” shop business.
Dressed
in a green Baju Kurung (Malay dress), Shamsiah earns extra income during
the holy month of Ramadan, and her daily runs to the markets helps her
grab fresh products to serve her clientele in the evening.
The
economic collapse of 1997 left Shamsiah jobless; the company where she
was working had to close shop while she lost her savings in the
stumbling stock market.
The
same story applies to several other women in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei
and Indonesia. These women had to start a fresh life after the 1997
crash that caused a horrific rise in the U.S. dollar and a near total
collapse of the local currencies in the South East Asian region.
“It
was a nightmare. I watched TV and there it was. The Malaysian Ringgit
was diving to its lowest, while the stock market where I had some shares
in some big companies was depleted by the hour…,” Shamsiah told
IslamOnline.
Her
life completely changed overnight when she was informed by her boss that
the transport company where she was a telephonist and secretary had
closed shop.
“There
is no business, the company closed down and I was on the street. Yet it
was a blessing in disguise,” she said.
For
the past 4 years, the mother of 3 has been running to the wet markets in
Chowkit and Dato Keramat, Kuala Lumpur buying fresh fish, prawns and
crabs to prepare for her small “curry” shop business in the city
itself.
Shamsiah’s
shop is located at a junction in Jalan Masjid India and she sells a
variety of local dishes that became a hit with her customers. “My
husband always urged me to start a food stall, he said I cook like a
chef and this would make a great selling point.”
This
year business is good, she says showing her empty pots while she packs
her utensils and closes shop for iftar. “During Ramadan, I sell more
food. The favorite is fish head curry but my prawn curry is also a
hit,” a smiling Shamsiah said.
In
1998, the year Shamsiah started her small business with the help of her
husband who was working part time as a taxi driver, the country was
shaken by the sudden revocation of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy
prime minister.
Over
the years, things became steady for her while Malaysia battled its way
out of the steep recession and the effects of the “reformasi” which
started after the jailing of Ibrahim in 1998.
The
entire Malaysian system seemed shaken and stuck in a dangerous spiral of
economic crash and financial starvation with the dismal absence of
capital inflow in the hands of the public.
The
events that followed took Malaysia by surprise as thousands of
Ibrahim’s supporters went on the streets to emulate what was happening
in Indonesia at the end of the General Suharto rule.
“It
was tough. Business was bad during those days but I had no choice but to
fight for my family’s survival,” she said adding that business in
Kuala Lumpur dipped to its lowest ebb with shops and other businesses
“closing down like autumn leaves falling from trees.”
In
Jakarta, the reform movement shattered several businesses in the vast
metropolitan city, many of which never recovered. The years of unrest
caused many people to lose their jobs and the rate of unemployment was
higher than ever before.
However
for Rika in Jakarta, it was also a blessing in disguise when she lost
her job when the company where she was working as clerk had to close
shop due to lack of business.
A
single mother, she started to sell home-cooked food at a road side near
the Sarina supermarket in Central Jakarta. Her business became an
instant success with foreigners and locals, and soon enough she was
earning a decent living.
“Ramadan
is a good season for making extra income,” Rika told IslamOnline in an
online chat session, adding that this year would be even better for her.
“Business
is not as usual in Ramadan. We have to work harder since people tend to
buy food rather than cook at home. This year started very well for me,
and I pray it keeps up this way,” a confident Rika said.
In
Singapore, the situation is slightly different for Muslim women who want
to earn some extra income during this holy month of Ramadan. The tiny
city state does not allow people to sell anything without a proper
permit and raids against violators of the rigid laws are frequent.
Police
officers in dark blue uniforms are often seen carrying away the utensils
and food prepared by Malay-Muslim ladies who took the liberty to use a
portion of the pavement for their improvised business.
“Though
we get caught, it is still worthy to do business in Ramadan. The rate at
which the cakes sell is incredible and at times we just leave the
balance of the products and run away from police,” Sabariah said.
She
sells home baked cookies, cakes and other delicacies that people
normally order two weeks before the Eid El-Fitr festivities.
For
hundreds of other women who survive with small businesses in the streets
of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Jakarta, life is not easy if business is
bad.
However
for this Ramadan, they all seem happy with their businesses while they
look forward for a happy Eid El-Fitr, the festive season at the end of
the fasting month.
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