BATU PAHAT, March 11 — An Orang Asli village in the Rengit district, about 45 kilometres from the Batu Pahat town, is a shopping paradise for fans of second-hand goods.
Just by entering Kampung Bumiputera Dalam, one will be spoilt for choice with various items, from the small ones to the size of a refrigerator, arranged by the roadside for motorists passing-by to view before making their purchase.
Operating on a daily basis, this “Pasar Karat”, or flea market, where antiques or second-hand goods are sold, used to be a busy place with the huge number of people arriving.
Most of the goods that are sold at this market are imported from Singapore, such as furniture, electrical appliances, toys, home furnishings, home decorations and used clothing.
The main products or the popular choice among fans of second-hand goods are branded electrical appliances, apart from furniture, toys and home decorations, as well as “bundle” clothing.
However, business for the Orang Asli at this flea market is declining, turning the once lively place into a lifeless area because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to one of the traders, Sa’adiah Sarom , 56, she used to be able to earn up to RM3,000 a month, but now it is very difficult to achieve that sale.
She said the number of people who came to the market was decreasing and believed it was because they were afraid to be infected by the COVID-19 virus.
“Since implementation of the Movement Control Order, it is difficult for me to earn a living, not many people come here anymore, ”said Sa’adiah to Bernama, recently.
This was concurred by Muhammad Fridaus Bahari, 31, who is also a trader and he described the COVID-19 pandemic as an unfortunate event that had changed the people’s lives.
“Now it is difficult to do business, it is difficult to bring goods from Singapore because of the border closure and the price of the goods is also higher. This has forced many of the traders to close business,” he said.
Kampung Bumiputera Dalam has more than 500 ‘Orang Asli Kuala’ families and it is the largest Pasar Karat area in Batu Pahat.
To better understand the plight of the Orang Asli community there, Bernama interviewed a former senator, Datuk Osman Bongsu, who also lives in the village.
He called on the government to consider developing the Orang Asli resettlement area in Kampung Bumiputera Dalam, especially to improve Internet coverage in the village.
He said with an efficient broadband system in the village, it would help the Orang Asli to venture into digital business.
“The drainage system in the village also needs to be re-examined as it has never been maintained for more than 10 years because the second-hand shops are built along the road in the village,” he added.
Source: BERNAMA