Selangor MB's Broom Award

They say a new broom sweeps clean, I hope the person who receive this will use the broom.

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Yesterdays The Star reported that the Selangor MB gave out Broom Award to 2 persons for under performance in collecting Tax (below 50%). Today the newspaper report that Cuepacs (Malaysian Civil Servant association) Unhappy, MP’s question Award. .

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Comments, I use to look up to the Selangor MB, as it was reported that he followed his enforcement people in the middle of the night, Frankly I lost faith in him with the Datok Z case of the Istana in the Low Cost area, and the Satay Restaurant. This will help me to recover a bit of faith in the BN government. .

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My issuers with this .

This type of poor performance in the Public sector at the very least you get reprimand, in most companies the ball is set rolling for you to get sack, to self resign, or evidence of wrong doing. A pay cut, No bonus, No increment will definitely be on. .

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. Getting a Broom I would not mind that at all, and for the others to defend the people / department that got the broom, well all I can say is Malaysia Government Boleh. I say this to the Selangor MB Do More, Give out more brooms, Still poor performance “start on cutting pay” then “reprimand” then “Sack them” then results will start showing, .

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I say this to Cuepacs and the MP’s .

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This is the Real Malaysia Boleh, Any thing also Can, Buck up, Improve, Some one is daring enough to helm the change for the better, for H---- sake support him

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if you do not want to get the broom, work harder! Any one care to comment

Penang Chief Minister, Please follow suit, you may get my vote during the Next election. I still stay at Tanjung Bungah.

Cost of Living

Looks like we are in for another round of price increase soon. I am still feeling the effects of the last price increase. Fuel prices will be increasing soon, (a newspaper report say) to RM 2.50 per liter from the current rate. That I am sure will cause prices for all goods and services to go up, especially hawker food. Toll is also going up soon. Even if the price do not go up, the portion size is reduce to compensate, as such instead of one portion is enough, one portion is now not enough.

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Then the ppl in power will advice again, “buy essential good, buy wisely and cheaper items only. “ well we have been hearing that for a few times now, for those who have listen to the advice the first time, it may make the difference, but how many time can a person cut down.

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The last time this was said, I was already down to buy house brand goods, from the hypermarts. Do you notice the House Brand items, while cheaper do not measure up to the normal brands. (Note: I am not talking on the premium brands) it is either smaller in size, or the quality sucks. .

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Need some better advice then that. Anyone care to give suggestions or even location where one can get cheaper goods.

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Well what can one do to decrease cost of living now a days? .

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1. I compare and find which hypermart give me more bang for the RM, in general which is cheaper and to buy from that one Hyper mart only I will not travel to multiple places to get the items I need as that would result in spending more in petrol, then I try to cut down trips to hyper marts and purchase in bulk, down to twice a month, and trying to go to once a month.

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2. Cut down trips in general, no joy ride trips, go to work and then back in the most direct and non jam road, leave earlier or later to avoid jam. No weekly trip for recreation or cinema. Accelerate Slowly, anticipate slow down, so do not step on accelerator etc . My Wira 1.3 aeroback manual, gives me around 300km to 350 km for RM 50 now.

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3. Just purchase a Electrical Saver Devise, which claims to cut down electricity by 30%, (I hope) for just RM40 via lelong, at the local Hypermart it cost RM200+ (different brand though) will blog on it and see if it works. Currently electrical bill is around RM65 – RM 80 monthly. 30% of that will be RM15. so hopefully bill will come in at RM50 to RM65.

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4. Do not use Air Con, only Fans. .

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5. Am trying to purchase items such as clothing’s via internet, Just purchase 2 pants, took 1 month, for it to arrive, the guy ran out of stock, for RM40 each, quality is just not there. I think purchasing trough Internet may cut down you cost, just that it is too much guess work, you cannot examine quality over the net, and scams make me vary. .

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Well it will definitely affect my blogging, Food cost more, Petrol Cost more, so less food reviews, I have not even started on my Travels side so now no traveling.

Red Alert! Price of Hawker Food going up

Ouch!, The Star reports that Hawkers food in Penang is going up, Roti Canai is up by 20cents to RM1, a increase by 25%, while other noodles food will be up also by 20 cents. How much you want to bet that non noodles food price will also increase? See The Star Metro, Pg M2 (top of the page)

More Raya Greetings

Raya Greetings from a Golf Resort in Seberang Prai Selatan where i stop for a meal.

The Fountain (without a Pond) at New World Park

Lemang - Essential Food of Hari Raya in Malaysia

What is Lemang? Glutinous rice, with coconut milk with a bit of salt, cooked in banana leaf lined bamboo over a wooden fire.

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Hari Raya for Malays in Malaysia will not be complete with out this, and it is usually eaten with rendang, a dry spicy curry dish, made with beef or chicken.

This is the finish product after being cook and taken out of the bamboo, and the banana leaf remove and is cut into pieces ready to eat, Very Filling

Lemang Stall

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Usually found only during Raya Period, Lemang is traditionally cook / prepared in open air stalls, It is difficult to prepare well as the heat of the fire, frequent turning of the bamboo to prevent the rice from being burnt, and other factors come into play during the cooking, as such it is usually prepared by a master lemang specialist as a communal project in kampongs (village)or sold on the road side in towns and city.

More From Mizi Bistro @ New World Park, Penang

We return to Mizi for more of their good food, Again we had the setmeal, There were 3 of us this time and we had, Onion Soup, Mushroom Soup, and the Oxtail Soup, due to the low light the photo did not turn up well below are the main course we took. Sorry, we did not remember the actual name of the Dish, I will give you a rough description of the items.

Stuff Deep Fried Breaded Chicken, (There were crab stick and other items inside) serve with apricot sauce

Stuff Pasta roll, with chicken, spinach, and over bake with cheese, very good which i had, to me the portion was on the small side but then i am a big eater, but that left place for the ice cream

Vegetarian Spring Roll, Home made with premium vegetable, we recommend this dish highly, due to its originality and ingredients, and that is was oven bake as such non greesy

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri!

Wishing all Muslim Readers and Malaysian a very happy Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2007! May you have a joyfull year.

Penang Ferry Ride

Now a day a trip on the Penang Ferry is not a common occurrence as most prefer to use the Penang Bridge. On this fine day with time at hand, I decided to take the ferry over, from Penang to Butterworth, due to my destination which was near the ferry terminal at Butterworth.

A Penang Ferry

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The Penang Ferry, operates between George Town, The Main City which is located on the Island and Butterworth which is located on the Main Land. As far as I know the Penang Ferry is a unique vehicle.

Departing Penang Island

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As noted in Wikipedia : Penang Ferry Service is the Oldest Ferry Service in Malaysia starting in 1920's.

View In Side the Ferry (Lower Deck)

The Weather was not too good today, General View of the Main Land

View of the Island (George Town) from middle of the channel

Note: Komtar, The Tallest Building in Northern Malaysia & In The State.

If you get lost in Penang, Just look for Komtar, that will lead you to City Center.

View of the Penang Bridge from Middle of the Channel

View of the Island (towards South & the Bridge)

Ferry Terminal (Island)

Marina next to the Ferry Terminal

Marina next to the Ferry Terminal, Photo Taken from Ferry Just before Departure

View of George Town from a departing Ferry

View from Ferry (On Arrival at Butterworth)

View of Main Land (Port, & Ferry Terminal)

View of Penang Port & Ferry Terminal, This is where Penang Central is to be located, the Propose Transportation Hub.

More Socially Inconsiderate Drivers

I will let the pictures do the talking with just a few comments.Double Park, when i came out of the bank 10 min later, the car is still there. More Double Parking!

Unloading, Loading along a Main Road!

Abandoned Workers

there was an article in the papers (the star 6/10/2007 Stranded High and Dry Pg N21) about abandoned foreign workers, that they were left in a house, in a housing estate, with out job etc, and that there are thousands waiting for their employees at our national airport, but it seems that no one have employed them. I can Sympathize with them as I was a foreign worker my self 20 years back, in Switzerland. The Loneliness, the loss, the fear etc can be overwhelming.

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Irresponsible employers, especially those that want to exploit cheep labour even when there are local to be hired are to be blame. They are not willing to pay more for locals, when it actually cost more to have the foreign workers, their pay, their housing, their food. Of course some people will cut corners and will give them housing that even animals will not stay in and sub standard food. This is also true for those who provide housing and food to local staffs.

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Having said that, local are also not willing to work the hours this foreign workers work, nor as hard (some times) and the Job are simply not recognise. A waiter in Malaysia is a nobody, A waiter in Europe is recognise as a highly skilled professional who started at 16 years of age, working and studying as a apprentice and is well respected. My former coworkers in Europe were qualified as Engineers, Doctors, etc but choose waitering in a foreign country for a higher pay. This is a example that i am well aware off, having been a waiter in Europe and in Malaysia. Overall workers in Malaysia are in general not appreciate nor recognise. .

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Employers have to be responsible, to both locals and foreign workers, If they are willing to pay agents for foreign labour, provide (suitable) housing, provide (suitable) food, provide medical treatment, provided cloths, why cant they pay more for the Local staff to work, treat them better, give them the recognition they are due, more may be willing to work those long hours and work hard. after all hundred thousands of Malaysian are running away oversea to work, in what in Malaysia is low status job.

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The house next to mine, (as well as the house at the back) were recently rented out to a company that used the house as accommodation to Foreign workers, Initially we were a bit worried, but i reason out to my self that these people were just like me. Of course the possibilities that there may be a few bad hats among them, as there could be bad hats among Malaysians.

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This Company seems to treat this workers well, very well indeed, the whole house were painted, repaired, washed, proper bedding were provided as were sofa, cooking equipments, in fact better that those that i provide for my self. Beds were of Double Decker verity. There is a man that come by in a merc once in a while and look in. I have not seem a company treating local workers this way.

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What is disquieting or make me slightly nervous is that this workers does not seem to work. No one come to pick them up to work, and there is always some of them around at all hours. There is another house which is also rented out to another company, and this workers are pick up daily and work the whole day. I certainly hope that there will not be a case of abandoned workers next to my house.

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Some things must be done about this problem in general, Key points should be

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1) Encourage Locals, may be Better Pay, Better Treatment, Better Social Status, if a company can pay more for foreign workers, they can pay locals the same. A MINIMUM WAGE will be nice. with equal treatment, if Foreign Workers can be provided all meals and housing, locals should get them as well.

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2) A Mechanism to enable this Foreign Workers to go home with their hard earn salary if they are abandoned, either a insurance (which can be faked) or payment / deposit (in advance to their arrival in malaysia) to the Government, which is refundable once the foreign workers return to their country.

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3) When the Foreign Workers arrive they must be accommodated decently. those abandoned, their agents both local and foreign, and their purportedly employers must be severely penalise and not just black listed. Companies should not be give immunity.

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In general I feel companies in malaysia do not make any effort in general to, 1) Encourage Locals to work, 2) Upgrade / improve conditions, or social conditions of the Job. They seem to think that Foreign Labour/Workers is the answer. It may be the short term solution, but frankly not the long term ones.

A picture of the Foreign Workers Loitering around in the house compound next to my house

Hokkian Mee with a Twist

Let me introduce you to a Penang Dish that is not that well know, or shell i say a Penang Food that is presented in a different manner. I would say most people know about Penang Hokkian Mee Soup, or Prawn Mee Soup as it is know in the rest of the country. Well would you know of a dish call Hokkian Ta, Literal translation as Hokkian Dry?

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Well this is Hokkian Ta, Just like Hokkian mee Soup, but there is very little soup, which is very concentrated, and garnish with pork ribs, shrimps and all the usual stuffs and Braised Chicken Feet. Also very different from the Singapore Version.

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This was introduce to me about 2 years back, and that is the first i seen this dish. My reaction was what is this? After having it, I should say that it is Hokkian mee presented differently, but it has a charm on its own.

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Well for those of you who would like to try it out, here are the following information.

The Coffee Shop which is the Home of Hokkian Ta

The Stall

Location : Exit Bukit Mertajam to Kulim via Convent School towards Kg Baru, Just before the traffic light where the road ture in to a one way road, you will see on your left this restaurant (PHOTO) before, Taman Sentosa, before the road that turn in to BM country club. Turn in and go into the lane beside this restaurant (City Restaurant), Then Turn right, the Coffee Shop is in front of you.

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RM3.30 per bowl The Char Koey Teow here is passable.

Took as little test today

When Brousing around afew of the regular sites I visited, and was tempted to take a small test. The Results (twice with different answers) so i record i am no hero. Once I took another test and the results indicated that i am a S, Support type person.

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Your results: You are C-3PO

C-3PO 61% Qui-Gon Jinn 61% Mace Windu 61% R2-D2 60% Darth Maul 56% Chewbacca 53% Jar Jar Binks 53% Lando Calrissian 53% Jabba the Hutt 52% Darth Vader 49%

You don't have a lot going for you, and you let everyone know it. You may have one or two close companions left, but if you keep complaining they may wander off.

(This list displays the top 10 results out of a possible 21 characters) Go and Have some fun . . Click here to take the Star Wars Personality Quiz

Socially Inconsiderate Drivers

Drivers that are socially inconsiderate are found every where, in Cities, Big Towns and Small Towns. Carrying a Camera Phone, is certainly convenient to take snapshots of everything especially of things that i hate. Socially Inconsiderate Drivers (to be polite) are one of them.

Triple parking, at Penang GH, what happen if the vehicle in the center need to go? and there are parking space available, 200 meters away. That where i park.

What happen if the car belongs to a Dr, who must response to a emergency?

This is a wide car, a very wide car that need to be park on two parking bay. even a merc take up one car park space, but this car needs two. Well can we saman this guy?

This truck was unloading in this narrow street, grid lock for 5 min with traffic piling up on both ends. This is what traffic jams are course by. The best thing is that when the truck move, he stop at another shop to unload 50 meters further up, He was blasted by around 20 horns inclusive mine. Also, the local police station is in between this two shops.

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I conclude that Police are not respected or feared here.

“Why I Want To Eat At Fridays?”

Look at TGIF advertisement in this blog, A Three Course Meal at Rm39.90 FLASHING away, with the pictures of the 3 course meal. This bring back fond memories

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I last eat at TGIF way back, around 15 years ago in one of their outlets in PJ i think. I have a nice meal there, with a wonderful experience and frankly I would like to go back there again. What did i enjoy there?

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• Good Service
• Superb Food
• Excellent Portions
• Wonderfull Experience

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From what i understand the food service and quality have been maintain, and the best news is that it is available in Penang, Queensbay Mall. Wonder when i will drop by with my family and blog about it.

Mizi Bistro @ New World Park, Penang

EXCELLENT FOOD, AFFORDABLE PRICE, GOOD SERVICE this should be Mizi Bistro tag line.

Mizi Bistro Front entrance

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As mention in a previous post, Mizi Bistro was the busiest during my night walk around. and the busiest during this afternoon.

The MENU

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This fine afternoon, on instructions from a friend, i stop by at New World Park for lunch at 2pm, This friend wanted to meet the owner of the Mizi, and also wanted to talk to me, so that the best place to wait as well as to have lunch.

The Bread Basket

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Owned and Operated by a Former 5 Star Hotelier, Mizi Bistro is a charming place, very affordable pricing and offers close to Fine Dinning food, with adequate service especially for a place just open. RM16.90 ++ for set lunch, a drink, a soup, a main dish and unlimited Ice Cream.

Green Pea Soup

I had the green pea soup, well all i should say is that there is no canned soup available here so those who like Campbell Soup, etc should stay far away. Thick, Fresh. Mmmmmmm

Teriyaki Chicken, done to perfection, on a bed of vegetable and plain rice. nice succulent chicken.

My Friend had the Fish with Mustard Cream Sauce. Good size portion, I will not show the ice cream i pig out on. Mizi Bistro offer good value for money, just one thing, go early or late after 2.30pm or be prepared to wait. Tel 04-2272921 New World Park plans to open a Flea Market on Sat and Sundays it seem from 10am till 10pm this October. There are also plans for it to be a Wifi Zone.

Mid Autumn Festival

Wikipedia Notes that : The Mid-Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival, is a popular Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness, dating back over 3,000 years. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival, it is also celebrated in Vietnam and Korea.

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The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar (usually around mid- or late- September in the Normal Calendar), a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. This is the ideal time, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, to celebrate the abundance of the summer's harvest. The traditional food of this festival is the moon cake, of which there are many different varieties.

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The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally, on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomelo together.

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Accompanying the celebration, there are additional cultural or regional customs, such as:

• Eating moon cakes outside under the moon
• Putting pomelo rinds on one's head
• Carrying brightly lit lanterns
• Burning incense in reverence to deities including Chang’e
• Planting Mid-Autumn trees
• Lighting lanterns on towers
• Fire Dragon Dances

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Well to me a Malaysian Urban boy , my memories of the Mid Autumn festivals is eating the Mooncake at home, and running around the house compound with lanterns. Mooncake in those days come in a few verities, Lotus Seed, Red Bean etc, now a days a staggering verities are available such as tiramisu, cheese cake, and even BBQ Chicken with yam.

This year staying in a country side housing estate, the local resident association organize a big dinner as well as a procession of lanterns, I found this out by accident due to the Music blaring out at high volume. The Residents started to gather at the central padang (field) at around 6.30, the children were given paper lanterns with candles, at around 7pm they lighted the candles and escorted by a few 4 wheel drives, they walk around the Housing area, returning to the padang at around 7.30pm, where by they have their dinner and were entertain by music performance, and lucky draw were held till around 10pm.

After staying here for close to a year nor my immediate neighbor (3 years) , I nor my neighbor still have no contact with the local resident association, nor are we in any way inform of the goings on, the functions etc. It is because we are the “New” guys in town? We am not interested in the resident association going on?

Yes, I admit that I do not make the effort to look for this ppls, and that I am rarely at home as I work during week ends and in the evenings but my wife is at home, my daughter attend the neighborhood vernacular school.

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Information on the going on can be given out via a banner or buy flyers distrituted. Or is the resident association just for a group of 4 wheel owners?

Penang International Lantern Festival Update

Penang International Lantern Festival has been extended to the end of the year, 31 Dec and is to be held yearly.

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The Star run the following story;

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More funds for lantern festival

. BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Tourism Ministry has pledged to inject more funds for the Penang International Lantern Festival which will be made an annual event from next year.

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Its Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the move was to make the event, one of the highlights of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, more grander.The ministry allocated RM300,000 for the festival this year.The event, which highlighted Penang's rich culture, could attract more local and foreign tourists, said Tengku Adnan after opening the festival at the Juru Auto-City yesterday evening.Themed "Hello Kitty and Friends in Penang Safari", it will run until Dec 31.

. It features among others landscapes such as the Penang Bridge, bird sanctuary and elephant rides.Present were state Tourism Development committee chairman Tan Cheng Yeow, festival organising chairman Ng Siew Lai, Auto-City managing director Gary Teoh and Lanters in Motion managing director Colonel (R) Lim Yeow Pheng.Tengku Adnan said the ministry would intensify efforts to market Penang as a tourist destination in the international market, with Penang Hill to be made the state's core landmark.

Pasar Ramadhan

During the Month of Ramadhan, you will find Street Food popping up on streets and roads all over Malaysia, selling traditionally Malay delicacy from 5pm onwards. In urban areas Non traditionally malay delicacy have started to creep in to the Menu.

Stall Selling Ikan Bakar

(Grilled Fish in Banana Leaf with a spicy Sambal sauce)

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Once the stalls have started operating, the horde of customers will descend and most of the Items will be sold out before the breaking of the fast time, (between 7pm to 7.30pm in malaysia)

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The horde of Customers!In General, Muslims will purchase the delicacy to take home, especially food difficult to prepare in small quantity, to be eaten with other home cook food. For the City Folks who do not have the time to prepare their own home cook food. they can buy all they need here to break their fast.

Now adays, the non muslim will also descend on to the Pasar Ramadhan to purchase the traditional malay dishes to have with their dinner.

Stall selling Nasi Ayam

In general the price are very reasonable, in fact much cheaper then the usual stalls or restaurants, this lead to more customers dropping by.

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More Ikan Bakar

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Satay

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The Pasar Ramadhan where I stay at the country side feature traditional Malay delicacy only. This year the mood seem to be dampen. This may be due to the recent sprat of price increase to the basic food stuffs. In particular, there was only one stall selling ayam percik, and one stall selling fried chicken.

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At a Pasar Ramadhan, you will usually find stalls selling Malaysian Style Burgers, Murtabak, Ayam Percik, Fried Chicken along with Fish Balls etc, Rice Stalls selling currys, Chicken Rice or rather Nasi Ayam, Malay Kuih, Noodles in a Spice Herbal Soup (Soto) Ikan Bakar, etc

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If you are a tourist do try out the food and wounder around the Street Pasar to get a feel of the Fasting Month. For us malaysians, this is a month of Happy Eating.