Pasar Payang Among Terengganu's Must-Visit Sites

By Kamaliza Kamaruddin KUALA TERENGGANU (Terengganu, Malaysia), April 26 (Bernama) -- The Pasar Payang central market, located just by the Terengganu River here, has continued to welcome a steady stream of visitors since the aggressive promotion of the Visit Terengganu Year (TMT 13), which started a year ago. The market is among the must-visit sites for visitors to the state, especially regular visitors to Terengganu, who come to buy various items, including souvenirs from the market such as silk, songket (gold thread woven fabric), batik and brass items. Terengganu is a state in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Indeed, even foreigners are fascinated by the place, especially the unspoilt natural surroundings and unique handicraft items sold at the market. While the weather may be unpredictable, with the occasional rain, it does not deter fans of handicrafts and silk materials from visiting the market, which offers a variety of new creations and designs at competitive prices. During a random survey of the market recently, Bernama found the two-storey building fully packed with visitors from all over Malaysia wanting to purchase batik and silk well before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration (a celebration to mark then end of Ramadan or fasting month) in August. PROMOTING VISIT TERENGGANU YEAR 2013 On the ground floor of the market, a wet market offers a number of products from fresh items for cooking to food items such as keropok, dodol, pickles as well as traditional delicacies of the state. On the upper floor, visitors can purchase songket, textiles, batik, and handicrafts made from copper, silver and wood. Besides shopping, visitors to the market can also taste various popular dishes of the state such as keropok lekor (fish fritters) and nasi dagang, a rice dish served with fish. According to the traders at the market, the number of tourists visiting the market has gone up due to the continuous efforts undertaken by the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) or National Front government, which has been carrying out active promotions in conjunction with the Visit Terengganu Year 2013. The traders also expressed their appreciation to the BN government, conveying that it has always strived to help them improve their income and economy. BN is Malaysia's major political coalition. HIGHER INCOME The owner of Ety Batik (a shop in the market), Nor Hayati Kamaldin, 26, said she welcomes the efforts undertaken by the government to promote TMT13, with various events and championships, held both at national and international levels. "This is because once tourists attend international events here, they will come to the market to purchase souvenirs for their friends and relatives back home. "Indirectly, this has helped to increase the income of traders as well as small and medium sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) like me," said Hayati, who owns two batik and silk shops in the market. PROMOTING NEW PRODUCTS Another trader, Ariza Jusoh, 44, also said the number of tourists to the market has increased, doubling the income for them. "Traders should also take the opportunity and promote their latest designs, which could appeal to visitors, as the visitors are usually choosy about colours and designs. "Some of them also buy silk in bulk when they have many orders from their colleagues and want to get a good discount," she told Bernama, when met at the market. The traders in the market, meanwhile, are constantly looking to produce or source new products that would appeal to visitors. FRIENDLY AND CHEERFUL TRADERS Nur Hashimah Saad, 34, who had not visited the market for a very long time, meanwhile, expressed her delight at having made it to the market before it made way for a proposed new and larger building. Under the proposed plan, a hotel will be built in the area, but the market will be retained at the ground level and lower floor. "Everything has remained the same, with the traders attending to their customers cheerfully. "What is obvious is the variety of clothing being offered, including children's trendy batik clothing, which provides customers a variety of choice," the lecturer from southern state of Johor said. Another visitor, Azura Abas, 43, said she took a flight together with her friends from Kuala Lumpur just to buy silk in bulk. "We arrived in the morning on an AirAsia flight that we had booked eight months ago so that we could save time and energy rather than drive down here, which could take up to six to seven hours. "It is also better this way, coming with friends, as we can exchange views and check out the colours when selecting clothes. It is a bit difficult when you are with your husband or kid. The kid will cry if he/she gets too hot in the market," she said, but nevertheless commended the government for its efforts to upgrade the market, which has air conditioners now. -- BERNAMA