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A stall with a humorous name “Port Malas Masak” became one of the crowd pullers at the month-long Bataras Ramadan Bazaar, here. 

Rosmiati Rajudin, 43, also known as Mimey, said the name was chosen because it sounds amusing and resonates with people who do not have time to cook for breaking fast.

“The response from the public has been very good.  Our sales reached between RM700 and RM800 a day,” she said.

The best-selling item was nasi lalap because although simple, it is filling and affordable, while others include nasi ayam, nasi geprek, nasi ayam penyet and nasi ayam gepuk.

Another trader drawing attention at the bazaar was Hasbullah Baharuddin, 25, who sold dessert “Pisang Ijo KK City by Abg Bondeng”, which was on TikTok.

He said although it was their first attempt to introduce the traditional Bugis dish, in a modern style, they have managed to sell nearly 20,000 cups at three locations - Bazar Bataras, Sabindo and Bandar Sri Indah.

“Our uniqueness lies in the pandan-flavoured sumsum which has a natural green colour, unlike the usual white sumsum. Although some people consider it to be quite expensive, customers continue to support us because of the quality. “Taking into account the logistics costs we bear in transporting the product from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau,” said the Sandakan native.

He said this year’s Ramadan bazaar provided an opportunity to gauge market potential before expanding the business in the district in the near future.

Customer Farhana Rashid, 32, said she searched for the stall after seeing it on TikTok as she did not have time to cook after recently moving from Beaufort to follow her husband who works in Tawau.

She noted that prices at the bazaar had increased compared to last year, while other visitors including Muhammad Syazwan Falawangi, 25, Adib Din, 40, Umi Tohing, 45, and Koo Hung Eow, in his 40s, said rising costs have affected spending but the bazaar remains a place to enjoy food, support local traders and experience the festive atmosphere.