Malaysia's Ramadan Bazaars

Ramadan bazaars create a lot of job opportunities for Malaysians. (IOL photo)

As the clock ticks down to iftar in the southern city of Johor Bahru, more and more shoppers rush to buy their needs.

Many Muslims prefer to break their dawn-to-dusk fast at street bazaars in their neighbourhood. 

They choose from a variety of mouth-watering food items such as ready-made snacks, savouries, chicken rice, rice with curries and sambal, noodles, roasted chicken and curry puffs.

But judging from the cacophony of sellers, rice and fish seem the most popular.

"Rice and fish are indispensible at our food table," said Azatullah, a vendor selling ready-made rice dishes.

"We eat them at iftar and suhur."

The people of Malaysia, a country surrounded by waters from all sides, are heavy rice and fish eaters.

Fresh juice varieties are also a booming business in the Ramadan bazaars, offering thirsty customers a variety of sugar cane juice, watermelon juice, soyabean drink, cendol and coconut water.

"People like fresh coconut and sugar cane juice," notes Hairoun, another seller.

Malaysia, where forests make up 60 percent of the land, is known for producing a wide variety of fruits.

Attraction 

Sitti came from Singaporea to shop in Ramadan bazaar. (IOL photo)

Customers stroll through many stalls featuring textiles, ready-made cloths and decorative items in all sizes, colours and styles.

Other than food and clothes, music CDS are also on sale, particularly a song celebrating the fast-approaching "Hari Raya" or Eid el-Fitr.

Most of the shoppers at the Johor Bahru bazaar seem to be Malays, judging from their distinctive head scarves.

Muslim Malays make up more than 60 percent of Malaysia's population of nearly 26 million.

However, a few shoppers of Chinese, estimated at nearly 26 percent of the population and mostly non-Muslims, were visiting the bazaar as well.

The Ramadan bazaars also attract visitors from neighbouring countries.

It just took Sitti, a Singaporean housewife, half an hour to come to Johor Bahru, which is linked to Singapore by a water causeway.

"We came here for a change, as Singapore have many bazaars as well," she said.

Ramadan bazaars create a lot of job opportunities for Malaysians.

Hairoun was working in the shipping industry for 2000 ringgit a month.

"Now I work at the bazaar which provides me with 5000 ringgit at the holy month," he said.

"That is really good."

But since Ramadan is approaching its end, Hairoun will have to go back to his less-rewarding shipping job and wait for next Ramadan to bring good news with it.