By-election a boon to Sungai Besar cottage industries
The last three weeks has seen booming sales of biscuits, titbits and sweets, in part due to the cheaper prices here compared to the same goods sold in cities.
Yusalimah Yunus, 39, manages Aneka Kerepek As-Shifah along the 15km Jalan Kuala Selangor connecting the Sekinchan and Sungai Besar townships.
She is now looking forward to the campaigning period, which starts on June 5, and polling day on June 18.
“I used to make about RM10,000 in gross profits every month. Now, after not even three weeks, I have already surpassed that mark,” she said.
Most of those who stop by her stall were campaign volunteers from both sides of the political divide as well as political aides.
“They have been buying a lot for their groups and for their families back home. Some come from as far as Pahang and Shah Alam,” she said.
Compared to her other competitors — primarily padi farmers who sell titbits during the off-season — Yusalimah said she has been doing this full-time for the past 15 years.
“My whole family helps to run the business. Even my relatives who are working outstation do their part whenever they come back for holidays,” she said.
Sallehudin Maswari, 24, is the manager of Nora Cookies in Pekan Simpang Lima. His in-laws began selling tit-bits seven or eight years ago to supplement their income from running a garden nursery.
“We earn around RM2,000 to RM3,000 from the seasonal sale of titbits. But now, we have already made more than RM4,000 in the past three weeks,” he said.
“I can support both my wife and my seven-year-old son as well as my in-laws instead of working in the city, where I will be far away from them,” he said.
Anis Cookies owner Azmarulhisham Mohamad, 36, said he earns RM15,000 in gross profits every month.
“This is from selling titbits and my grocery shop in Pasir Panjang,” he said, adding that he would also sell a wider variety during Ramadan and Hari Raya.
Azmarulhisham expressed hope more public facilities and continuous development would be undertaken to stimulate the local economy.
“I also do a bit of padi farming on the side but the recent weather has impacted that source of income.
“If Sungai Besar and its surrounding area is a bit more developed, it would make all our lives easier,” he said.
from Malay Mail Online | All http://ift.tt/1WxtDrw
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