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Ramadan in Malaysia Good for Business 

The food business in Malaysia thrives in Ramadan 

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.

Yesterday's News

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