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THE Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV Ramadan Bazaar buzzed with activity on the first day of Ramadan as locals and visitors thronged the stalls, drawn by a wide array of festive foods, despite modest price increases for certain dishes.
Norhasuzi Othman, 46, a seller of traditional curry dishes, said the rising cost of ingredients, particularly coconut milk which has surged to RM15 per kilogram, forced her to raise prices for her signature gulai kawah by RM2 per container.
“The price of gulai kawah this year is between RM12 and RM15 per container, compared to just RM10 last year,” she said. “Even with the price increase, most of my regular customers, especially those fond of gulai kawah, continue to choose my stall.”
Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz, 37, who has been selling traditional kuih for over a decade, noted that escalating costs of raw materials, especially eggs, have also affected his business.
“At this bazaar, I sell more than 20 types of traditional kuih. Some of them had to have their prices increased by around RM1 to RM2 compared to last year,” he explained. “Items such as jala emas, nekbat, tahi itik, and buah tanjung are now sold at RM6 per container.
“Despite higher ingredient costs, I try to maintain minimal profit margins to avoid losing customers to other stalls.”
Ahmad Naime Muhammad, 42, a government employee visiting the bazaar, observed that prices this year are largely consistent with last year, though slightly higher than two or three years ago.
“If we compare prices to previous years, there is a difference as food was cheaper in the past,” he said. “Any increase in prices affects customers, especially those with lower incomes and large families. Nevertheless, the bazaar remains a top choice at iftar time because of its variety, including dishes available only during Ramadan.”
The bustling bazaar not only reflects the festive spirit of Ramadan in Kota Bharu but also highlights the delicate balance vendors maintain between rising costs and customer loyalty during the holy month. - February 19, 2026
