Tamparuli hawkers need proper stalls
Sabah Bumiputra Farmers and Stockbreeders Association is appealing to Tuaran District Council to look into the longstanding problem of Tamparuli weekly tamu hawkers selling wares in the open without any proper stalls.
TAMPARULI: The Sabah Bumiputra Farmers and Stockbreeders Association (Petanah) is appealing to the Tuaran District Council to look into the longstanding problem of hawkers at the Tamparuli weekly tamu who have been selling their produce and wares in the open without any proper stalls.
Petanah president David Gaibin Ransoi said in a statement here that many of the poor kampung hawkers, for many decades now, have been hawking at the tamu under the hot sun, or worse, under the rain.
“Some of them, including foreigners, can afford to own or rent hawking umbrellas, but many poor hawkers who come from the hills simply can’t afford it,” Ransoi said.
“They are there to make a few ringgits by hoping it wouldn’t rain.
“As such, in Petanah’s meeting last Wednesday, our supreme council unanimously agreed to make an appeal to the Tuaran District Council and the Chief Minister to immediately look into building proper sheds at the Tamparuli tamu, which is held every Wednesday at the riverside tamu designated area,” Ransoi added.
He lamented the fate of the hardworking kampong folks who produce food on their small land plots and travel long distances to the tamu just to make a few ringgits for their family.
He feels that the honest native folks have been neglected for too long.
“The present tamu ground is in very disorderly condition with the ground surface being very uneven, making it very difficult for customers to move around. On rainy days it become very muddy and slippery at some spots,” Ransoi pointed out.
“Let’s not forget that the hawkers are part and parcel of the age-old tamu tradition, which is a valuable aspect of local tourism, and not forgetting their contribution to the state’s food production.
“Unfortunately, the local authority has taken them for granted, and have forgotten their pressing need for proper stalls like the ones in Donggongon tamu,” Gaibin suggested.
“We feel that the state government should make the upgrading of tamus in Sabah a matter of urgent attention and action.
“Such an action will definitely encourage productivity and entrepreneurship among farmers, and will significantly increase the number of customers and tourists to our tamu grounds,” he said.