'Pasar Gadong is not like before in the 80s'

RENT may be cheap at Pasar Gadong, but Rosnah Ibrahim, who has a stall on the first floor of the wet market, said business has not been as good as customers now opt for the convenience of shopping at supermarkets.

Rosna has been running a stall at Pasar Gadong for the past 20 years. She told The Brunei Times that over the years, she had seen and experienced the ups and downs of having a Pasar business.

She had also seen how fellow stall owners had fared.

Some of the stalls are still being run, but some are not anymore, she said.

Rosnah said throwing in the towel is not an option for her. She said that as long as she continues there's always a 50-50 chance of things turning out for the better.

Also, she said she needs to help her husband earn a living to support their eight children, all of whom are still not working.

Rosnah said her husband, who works at the Public Works Department, doesn't really earn enough.

"My husband only earns less than $1,000 a month and it is not enough to support us," she said.

"Many people thought that it is lucky if we have a stall at Pasar Malam as customers know already it is there, and the rent is very cheap. Yes, many people visit Pasar and some of the stalls are profitable," she said.

It's not the case for her stall, though, Rosnah said, revealing that sometimes she's lucky if she makes $10 in sales a day.

"In one pack of ambulong (sago), which I sell for $1, actually I only earn 10 cents of profit. And yet some customers still want to bargain," she said.

She said she buys ambulong by bulk for $15 a bag, which she then repacks in 16 to 18 packs.

Given their financial situation, Rosnah said she was forced to apply for government aid.

She said her family's situation became worse when her third child had to quit studying after being diagnosed with epilepsy several years ago. She said that she has been worrying about her third child's future, when she and her husband can no longer take care of the child.

She said that she had already submitted several applications for welfare support, but still hasn't received a reply.

She said she is thankful to the government after being granted with housing support.

Still, she said the monthly rental for the housing scheme adds to their financial burden.

"I no longer depend on the profit from the stall anymore. The reason I am still doing it is because at least it is something," she said.

She said these days, not many go to Pasar Gadong just to buy banana, belacan or vegetables as there are better options at the supermarket. She added that with the slow sales, the stall's yearly rental has also not been paid.

"Pasar Gadong is not like before in the 80's," she lamented. "Now, if I make a sale, then there's money, if there's nothing, then there's nothing," she said. The Brunei Times