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VISITORS to Ramadan bazaars across Malaysia have voiced growing frustration over the quality of food sold during the fasting month, with numerous complaints of stale, undercooked and overpriced items surfacing as early as the second day of Ramadan.
Ramadan bazaars traditionally attract hundreds of thousands of Muslims seeking meals for iftar, and their popularity often draws a surge of new traders hoping to capitalise on strong demand.
However, a wave of consumer grievances shared on social media suggests that quality control has become a pressing concern.
Many customers claimed that food appearing appetising on the outside turned out to be disappointing upon closer inspection — undercooked, bland, sour-smelling as though no longer fresh, or containing portions that did not justify the price.
Kosmo cite on Sunday that some described feeling “cheated” after discovering their purchases were spoilt or poorly prepared, forcing them to discard food intended for breaking fast.
A Threads user, Zaimah Taib, expressed disappointment after purchasing popia sira in Bandar Baru Bangi, only to find it filled with fried potatoes instead of the usual vegetables.
“First day of Ramadan bazaar food, who has already been scammed?
“For example, popia sira with fried potato filling. So sad, I love popia sira, and suddenly it’s filled with fried potatoes. I bought it myself, ate it myself, it’s already in my stomach. Luckily the syrup and the popia skin were tasty. Such a waste that they used fried potatoes as the filling,” she said.
Another customer, Natasyaazaini, said she bought what was advertised as a beef roti john in Bangi, but found no beef inside.
“Beef roti john, but I got a roti john with no beef. Just egg and vegetables,” she said.
In Selayang, Nurulaqeella shared a video alleging that martabak purchased at a Ramadan bazaar smelled sour, was excessively oily and partially undercooked. In Kelana Jaya, another customer complained that her prawn fritters were not properly cooked.
In Johor Bahru, Syahiraaroslan posted a photograph of a mini chicken roti john that contained only a very small amount of chicken. Meanwhile, Matunhazel Mhz said she had bought chicken bones from a bazaar that emitted a sour odour, suggesting it was no longer fresh.
Similar complaints were reported in several states. In Jengka, Pahang, Mohd Fairuz Salehan, 41, said he discovered that tau fu fa he had purchased while visiting his wife’s hometown had gone bad.
“Luckily, I tasted it first. Otherwise, my young son, who loves that food, would have had a stomach ache,” he said.
In Melaka, a private-sector employee, Norhaizun, 28, said her child did not finish an RM8 laksa purchased at a bazaar in Melaka Tengah.
“The gravy tasted like it didn’t have enough ingredients. The trader seemed inexperienced,” she said.
In Shah Alam, customers reported buying gravy-based dishes and traditional kuih such as nasi kerabu, popiah, laksa and bubur lambuk that were sour and unfit for consumption.
Iffan Hamdan, 37, said the bubur lambuk and popiah he bought smelled unpleasant and had turned bad by the time of iftar.
“The popiah was difficult to chew, which dampened our intention to break fast,” he said.
Nur Syafura Mohamad, 43, said she was forced to throw away nasi kerabu and laksa after discovering they had spoiled.
“When I tried to heat the gravy, it started bubbling and smelled bad. The nasi kerabu was the same and both dishes had to be thrown away,” she said.
In Kuala Terengganu, Norhaslina Musa, 43, said she was dismayed to find that onde-onde she purchased had turned bad by the time she was ready to break fast.
“I didn’t expect it to be spoiled. Luckily my five-year-old youngest child didn’t manage to eat it,” she said.
She added that despite paying RM2.50 per packet, she remained disappointed by what she described as the careless attitude of certain Ramadan bazaar traders in preparing food for sale.
The surge in complaints has reignited concerns over food safety standards and enforcement at Ramadan bazaars, with consumers urging greater responsibility among traders to ensure meals prepared for the holy month meet acceptable standards of hygiene and quality. - February 22, 2026
