KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — The Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, fondly called Jalan TAR, and Jalan Masjid India area is synonymous with shopping, more so during the month of Ramadan leading up to Aidilfitri.
Visitors are prepared to face the traffic congestion there, particularly during weekends, to buy what they want for themselves and their families.
Nur Nazihah Mazlan, 28, a clerk with a private company, is no exception. She prefers to be the early bird so that she can beat the crowds that swell nearer to Aidilfitri.
“I like to shop here because I can get clothing of the latest fashion. There is also a large selection of goods and I can buy what I desire all at one place,” she told Bernama.
Muslims break their fast on the last day of Ramadan, at Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque) in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
Muslims break their fast on the last day of Ramadan, at Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque) in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
Men pray before breaking their fast on the last day of Ramadan at Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque) in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
Women shop before Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, which marks the end of Ramadan, as a boy looks on in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
A woman feeds a baby as people shop for clothes before celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which marks the end of Ramadan, in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
A woman shops for flowers before celebrating Hari Raya Aidifitri, which marks the end of Ramadan, in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
A balloon seller blows up balloons to sell to people shopping before celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which marks the end of Ramadan, in Kuala Lumpur July 27, 2014. — Reuters pic
Imam Faisil Bin Tab Mutallib performs ablutions before afternoon prayers towards the end of Ramadan at Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur July 26, 2014. — Reuters pic
A girl takes a nap, waiting for the bus in Kuala Lumpur to return to their hometowns ahead of the Eid celebration next week. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Passengers queue to board a bus in Kuala Lumpur to return to their hometowns ahead of the Eid celebration next week. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Passengers in Kuala Lumpur queue for their tickets to make sure they get to return to their hometowns ahead of the Eid celebration next week. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A crowd of women shop for clothes in Penang for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, July 17, 2014. — Picture by K.E.Ooi
Lim Guan Eng (left),Tony Pua (second from left) and Teresa Kok (right) serving food to the general public during the DAP buka puasa, July 17, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
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The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor posing for a group photo with families of MH370 passengers and national heroes of the Lahad Datu incident, July 15, 2014 at Seri Perdana Complex. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor speaking during an event to hand over contributions to families of MH370 passengers and national heroes of Lahad Datu incident, July 15, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the ceramah at Surau Saujana Impian, Kajang on July 8, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sits with the other attendees during the ceramah at Surau Saujana Impian, Kajang on July 8, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the ceramah at Surau Saujana Impian, Kajang on July 8, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the ceramah at Surau Saujana Impian, Kajang on July 8, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
A worker cleans the floor of the Tuanku Mizan Mosque in Putrajaya, July 7, 2014 . — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A young Muslim recites the Quran during the holy month of Ramadan at the Tuanku Mizan Mosque in Putrajaya, July 7, 2014. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A Muslim man performs his prayer at the Tuanku Mizan Mosque in Putrajaya, July 7, 2014. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A man cooks some meat over a charcoal grill at the Ramadan bazaar in Sekinchan, on June 29, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
A man prepares roti canai over a hot griddle at the Ramadan bazaar in Sekinchan, on June 29, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
A man prepares packets of watermelon and orange juice at the Pasar Ramadan in Section 17 Petaling Jaya, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
A woman buys satay from one of the stalls at the Pasar Ramadan in Section 17 Petaling Jaya, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
A man buys drinks from one of the drink stalls at the Pasar Ramadan in Section 17 Petaling Jaya, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
A worker passes packets of 'Bubur Lambuk' to a customer seated inside a car at Pak Zainal Bubur Lambuk stall in Kampung Baru, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
A worker packs ‘Bubur Lambuk’, a type of porridge popularly served during Ramadan, at Pak Zainal Bubur Lambuk stall in Kampung Baru, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Some women chat as they stir pots of ‘Bubur Lambuk’, a type of porridge popularly served during Ramadan, at Pak Zainal Bubur Lambuk stall in Kampung Baru, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Residents shop ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at the Shorja wholesale market in central Baghdad, June 28, 2014. — Reuters pic
People prepare to break their fast on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in front of police officers standing guard near Taksim Square in Istanbul June 28, 2014. — Reuters pic
People enjoy the warm weather on a beach ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Tunis June 28, 2014. — Reuters pic
Iraqi Kurdish residents shop ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at a market in central Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region, June 28, 2014. — Reuters pic
Malaysian Muslims perform a special prayer called ‘taraweeh’ in Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Putrajaya June 28, 2014. — Reuters pic
Filipino Muslim students hold a prayer before starting to read the Quran at a classroom inside the Al-satie Mosque, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Manila June 29, 2014. — Reuters pic
A Filipino Muslim man prepares smoked tuna before delivering them to a market for sale, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Manila June 29, 2014. — Reuters pic
Mosque workers tying up packets of Bubur Lambuk to be given away after Asar prayers at Masjid Jamek Kg Baru, June 29, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May
One of the 'must-buy' products in the Jalan TAR-Jalan Masjid India area is dates for breaking of the fast, and the traders stand to make a good profit because of the demand.
A trader of dates, Normala Abdullah, 40, said her sales could go up to RM3,000 per day.
“I sell a variety of dates and they are in great demand. However, I have to reduce the quantity I can put up for sale due to the limited space for trading,” she said.
Roslina Yusuf, 40, a trader of sarong and batik for almost 18 years there, said she was thrilled at the encouraging response from customers.
The customers came not only from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor but all over the country, including from states such as Kedah and Johor, to buy goods in bulk, she said.
“This week, most people have received their (June) salary,” she said, adding that the rush was evident from the morning even at the other stalls.
Hasibah Abdul Kadir, 43, said she was prepared to come all the way from Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan to buy goods for Ramadan and Aidilfitri because of the wide selection available at reasonable prices.
“Usually, the family makes the trip to look at home decorative items and clothing,” she said.
She said it was hoped that the traders would have more selection of children's clothing.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement officer Mohd Hariyadi Mohd Nor said there was a proposal to provide a bigger trading site for licensed traders and hawkers in Jalan Masjid India by closing a section of the parking lot there.
He also said that about 400 City Hall personnel had been deployed to monitor the traders in the Jalan TAR and Jalan Masjid India areas during Ramadan. — Bernama