Instant stalls debut

By Ling Poh Lean

lplean@nst.com.my
Pix by Ling Poh Lean

The Merlimau by-election is a boon to many locals.

Expecting a bumper crop from hordes of outsiders thronging the constituency, many set up foodstalls, some even in the compound of their homes.

Hassan Kadir’s temporarily food stall with a simple banner set up to serve the by-election in Merlimau.

One of the enterprising locals, Hassan Kadir decided to join in the crowd and found a place, less than one kilometre from the Barisan Nasional operations centre.

Together with his siblings in-law, the 53-year old welder spent some RM3,000 to rent tents and cooking utensils and set up base in the compound of a relative's house.

"My late mother used to make roti canai when she was young. She was the first Malay woman in Merlimau to be a roti canai maker and over the years, I learned the trade from her," he said.

Hassan Kadir, 53, is tosses roti canai at his temporary food stall in Merlimau.

Hassan who used to be a photographer with the police force said they opened for business two weeks before the nomination day and will close shop on Mar 5, a day before polling.

His stall is also close to Politeknik Merlimau, where nomination was held and he hoped students will flock to his outlet.

“The idea crossed my mind after I heard about the death of our assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan. I love to dabble in business and thought why not set up an instant foodstall to make some money.

“After discussing with family members, we all agreed to give it a try. And so, all the workers here are my family members – wife, children, mother-in-law and sisters-in-law,” he told New Straits Times reporters who happened to stop by for dinner recently.

The food stall which has a banner with the slogan “Kena Sekali Pasti Nak Lagi” (Once tried, you will ask for more) serves local food delicacies such as roti canai, nasi lemak and mixed rice.