Making a living in a shadow of history
KUALA LUMPUR: At the ticketing entrance of Stadium Merdeka, Rusilawati Borhan, better known as Cik Comel, spent Ramadan selling kuih and nasi lemak as the historic landmark came alive again.
In Kuala Lumpur, Cik Comel, widely known as Cik Comel, set up her stall at the entrance of Stadium Merdeka to sell traditional snacks like kuih and nasi lemak during Ramadan. The stadium, a historic landmark, holds significant importance for Cik Comel, who fondly recalls visiting the site with her husband in her younger years. The restoration of the stadium has transformed it into a safe and enjoyable space for people to exercise, relax, and socialize.
Cik Comel opened her stall right at the ticketing entrance, reminiscing about her younger days as she witnessed the stadium's transformation. Despite a quiet start, the Ramadan bazaar gradually attracted larger crowds, providing income for Cik Comel and her fellow vendors. The stall operates with around 18 suppliers, most of whom are single mothers, senior citizens, or women from the asnaf community.
Cik Comel earns a modest commission, sometimes as low as 10 or 20 sen, but finds happiness in seeing her suppliers prosper. She believes that if suppliers are content, she herself is content. Cik Comel's journey as a trader began after her husband became injured in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident 14 years ago, leaving him unable to work.
With limited options, she turned to Baitulmal for assistance and started earning a living by selling traditional snacks. Despite the long hours, she remains dedicated to helping her family and encourages other women facing hardships to seek alternative means of income.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
