Padang Besar turns lively again

PADANG BESAR: The Padang Besar which located at the Malaysia-Thailand border has become lively again when shoppers started to throng the town in preparation to welcome the advent of Syawal.

A Bernama check found that shops, Padang Waremart Padang Besar complex and Padang Besar Shopping Arcade have been crowded with visitors since the beginning of Ramadan after being desolated for almost a year due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the border closure in March last year.

One of the visitors, Mohamad Faiz Aiman Mohd Zaimi, 23, said Padang Besar became his destination of choice as he could get various items at reasonable prices.

"I come here (Padang Besar) to buy glutinous rice to make the mandatory Raya dish ketupat...I prefer the fragrant glutinous rice from Thailand due to its high quality," the Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAPs) student told Bernama recently.

Hashimah Ismail, 54, said she visited Padang Besar to buy some snacks such as kerepek, nuts and crackers as a side menu for those visiting her house during Raya.

"I have a big family...buying Raya cookies can be quietly costly, therefore I choose snacks from the neighbouring country (Thailand) because they are cheaper and tastier," said the housewife.

Meanwhile, trader Hamidah Abdullah, 65, said she is grateful to be allowed to resume her business adding that her business has also seen an increase in sales of late.

"Alhamduillah, after a year, people have started to come here again," said Hamidah who has been running a business at the Padang Waremart for the past 36 years ago.

-- BERNAMA