Foreign workers fill capital city during holiday season
KUALA LUMPUR: While most city folks here have decided to return home or go on a holiday during the long weekend, the capital remains bustling with foreign workers who have seized the opportunity to gather with their compatriots.
Workers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan have been spotted at shopping malls in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Jalan Petaling, Kota Raya and Pasar Seni.
A Bangladeshi worker, Mansour Abbas, 34, when met by Bernama in front of KLCC, said it was customary for him and his colleagues working around the capital to meet during the holiday season.
“We have no time to meet each other except during long holidays like this, we just gather and go for sightseeing,” said Mansour, who has been working in the country for four years.
The five-day holiday began on Thursday in conjunction with the 2017 National Day, followed by Hari Raya Aidiladha yesterday, while the Government has also announced Monday as a special holiday following Malaysia’s success in becoming overall champions of the 29th SEA Games (KL2017) which ended Aug 30.
Meanwhile, a housemaid from Surabaya, Indonesia, Isna Fitwal, 32, said she took the opportunity to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha with relatives and friends who are also working here.
“As the cost to go home to Surabaya is high, I chose to sped time with my relatives and friends here after my employers returned to their hometown. I’m not too sad, because Muslims here celebrate Hari Raya just like in Surabaya ... I’m grateful for working in this country, “she said.
For 27-year-old construction worker Sabbir Mufazar, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, the opportunity to have such a breather was rare, and truly cherished.
“It’s not often we can roam around like this, the streets are not crowded, the shopping complexes are not busy as usual, so it’s easy for us to buy things,” he said.
However, the influx of foreigners in the capital is somewhat ‘annoying’ to the locals, who are uncomfortable with the way some foreigners gather in large groups.
A housewife in her 30’s who only wished to be known as Lina said she wanted to take her children for an outing around Pasar Seni, however, her family’s plans were dashed when the area was found filled with foreigners.
“I live in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, and due to the long break till Monday, my husband and I decided to bring our children here for an outing, however, with this kind of atmosphere, it is uncomfortable, because some of these foreigners like to spit on roads,” she said, adding they decided to head to Putrajaya instead.
On the other hand, for roadside fruit and beverage traders, the presence of large numbers of foreigners in the city during the holidays has been a boon to their business.
Firdaus Ramli, 29, a trader along Lebuh Pudu said sales were brisk during this holiday season, and most of his clients were foreigners working in the area.
“I had to open another stall just to accommodate the demand. For me, this is a blessing,” he said. — Bernama