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

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.

Trading activity at Bazar Siti Fatimah in Rantau Panjang remains subdued, with some stalls closed and traders struggling with dwindling customer numbers. — Bernama pic

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.

Bazar Siti Fatimah in Rantau Panjang, once a bustling trading centre, has seen business slow sharply, with traders saying customer numbers have dwindled. — Bernama pic

“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