‘Sometimes I make only RM5’: Traders struggle as Rantau Panjang’s once-bustling bazaar falls quiet

Sapinah Abdul Rahman, a dry food seller at Bazar Siti Fatimah in Rantau Panjang, struggles to make a living with daily profits as low as RM5 to RM10 amidst declining visitor numbers and poorly maintained facilities.

Traders like Sapinah and clothing seller Kamarudin Jusoh, who face similar economic challenges, express hope that the area's revitalization will be prioritized in Budget 2027 to attract visitors and sustain their livelihoods.

Both call for local authorities to actively improve conditions and promote the bazaar to enhance business opportunities.

PASIR MAS, Sept 23 — There are days when dry food seller Sapinah Abdul Rahman, 66, earns only RM5 to RM10 in profit from her business at Bazar Siti Fatimah in Rantau Panjang.

However, the woman continues to open her stall as it is the only source of income she has left to make a living.

“This bazaar used to be very lively, packed with food stalls and people. Now, those days are just memories. There are not many customers, and sometimes I make only RM5 to RM10 in profit a day.

“It is hardly worth the time and effort, but we still have to make a living,” she told Bernama recently.

Rantau Panjang once enjoyed its heyday as a bustling town, drawing visitors and lined with rows of business premises. However, its economic hub has now become increasingly quiet, including Bazar Siti Fatimah.

The situation has prompted traders and residents to hope that the town’s development will be given attention in Budget 2027, not merely to attract more visitors, but also to ensure that traders continue to have opportunities to earn a living.

A Bernama check found Bazar Siti Fatimah to be quiet on weekdays, with some premises closed, while trading activity was also subdued.

Some parts of the area also appeared poorly maintained, with bird droppings and structures used by birds for nesting visible.

Sapinah said the bazaar’s condition needed to be addressed comprehensively, including through improvements to facilities, the provision of new attractions and promotional efforts to attract more visitors.

“If there is development and new attractions, people will come. When people come, traders like us will also have opportunities to earn a living,” she said.

She also hoped that the local authority (PBT) would play a more active role in ensuring that the area remained clean, well-maintained and comfortable for traders and visitors.

“Don’t just collect the rent. We hope there will be efforts to develop this place. If this place is vibrant and more people come, traders can also do better business,” she said.

For clothing seller Kamarudin Jusoh, 60, the situation had also made him consider giving up his business, but his age and difficulty in finding other employment had led him to continue relying on the business.

He said that with shop rental of RM280 a month, his income was now barely enough to cover his daily needs.

“I’m old. I have tried looking for other work, but I’m not qualified. So, I can only continue with this business. The rent is RM280 a month, but there are no customers. I just live from hand to mouth,” he said.

Kamarudin hoped that the plight of petty traders at Bazar Siti Fatimah would receive the attention of the relevant authorities through more structured measures to revive economic activity in Rantau Panjang.

He said the redevelopment of the area would not only attract visitors, but also provide opportunities for small traders to continue earning a living.

“I sincerely hope that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can help us. I hope the development of Rantau Panjang town will be mentioned in Budget 2027 and receive the prime minister’s attention.

“We hope that the town can be brought back to life so that small traders like us can continue to earn a living and the local economy can become vibrant again,” he said. — Bernama

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在兰道班让的西蒂法蒂玛集市，干货摊贩萨皮娜·阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼每天的收入只有 5 至 10 令吉，游客数量不断减少，设施维护不善，她的生活十分艰难。

像萨皮娜和服装商贩卡马鲁丁·尤索这样的商贩面临着类似的经济挑战，他们希望该地区的振兴能在 2027 年预算案中得到优先考虑，以吸引游客并维持他们的生计。

两者都呼吁地方当局积极改善条件，促进集市发展，以增加商业机会。

巴西马，9月23日讯——66岁的干货摊贩萨皮娜·阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼在兰道班让的西蒂法蒂玛市场摆摊，有时一天只能赚到5至10令吉的利润。

然而，这位妇女仍然继续开着她的摊位，因为这是她维持生计的唯一收入来源。

“这个集市以前非常热闹，到处都是小吃摊和人。现在，那些日子只剩下回忆了。顾客不多，有时我一天只能赚到5到10令吉的利润。”

“这几乎不值得花费时间和精力，但我们仍然要谋生，”她最近告诉马新社。

兰道班让曾是一座繁华的小镇，吸引着众多游客，街道两旁林立着商铺。然而，如今包括西蒂法蒂玛集市在内的经济中心却日渐冷清。

这种情况促使商户和居民希望该镇的发展能在 2027 年预算案中得到重视，不仅是为了吸引更多游客，也是为了确保商户继续有谋生的机会。

马新社调查发现，西蒂法蒂玛市场在工作日十分冷清，一些店铺关门歇业，交易活动也较为冷清。

该区域的部分地区也显得维护不善，可以看到鸟粪和鸟类筑巢的建筑物。

萨皮纳表示，集市的状况需要全面解决，包括改善设施、提供新的景点以及开展宣传活动以吸引更多游客。

“如果有了发展和新的景点，人们就会来。当人们来了，像我们这样的商贩也会有谋生的机会，”她说。

她还希望地方当局（PBT）能够发挥更积极的作用，确保该地区保持清洁、维护良好，并为商户和游客提供舒适的环境。

“不要只是收租金。我们希望看到这里得到发展。如果这里充满活力，人流量增加，商户的生意也会更好，”她说。

对于 60 岁的服装销售商 Kamarudin Jusoh 来说，这种情况也让他考虑过放弃自己的生意，但由于年龄和难以找到其他工作，他不得不继续依靠这份生意。

他说，由于店铺租金每月高达 280 令吉，他现在的收入勉强够支付日常开销。

“我年纪大了，也尝试过找其他工作，但我都不胜任。所以，我只能继续做这行了。租金每月280令吉，但根本没有顾客。我只能勉强糊口。”他说道。

卡马鲁丁希望有关当局能够通过更系统的措施来振兴兰道班让的经济活动，从而关注西蒂法蒂玛集市小商贩的困境。

他表示，该地区的重建不仅会吸引游客，还会为小商贩提供继续谋生的机会。

“我衷心希望首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣能够帮助我们。我希望兰道班让镇的发展能在2027年财政预算案中被提及，并得到首相的关注。”

他说：“我们希望这座小镇能够重现昔日繁荣，这样像我们这样的小商贩就能继续谋生，当地经济也能再次焕发活力。”——马新社

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