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LAWAS: Ramadan stall operators should be ethical and steer clear of profiteering as it could cause their business to suffer.Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said this when officiating at the launching of Lawas Ramadan Bazaar 2010 Monday evening.

He said reasonable pricing, attractive products and good service should be the benchmark for operators during Ramadan month, where creativity can make a big difference in their business.

“You must make profits, but do not price your goods so high that it drives away your customers,” he said.

Muslims and non-Muslims in Lawas can work together to give a creative spark to the Ramadan Bazaar and emulate the very successful model in Singapore in Geyland Park which is better even than the one in Kuala Lumpur, he said.

He said Lawas Ramadan Bazaar could be also serve as a tourist attraction and non-Muslims could also be involved in trading here, particularly during this fruit season which coincides with the fasting month.

Tengah also urged locals to buy essentials like sugar, cooking oil and other items in Lawas while calling upon traders to come up with attractive prices to give the locals cash liquidity and economy a Ramadan boost.

“Do not go all the way to KK to buy simple essential items as there are costs involved in travelling and accommodation while traders should put up attractive prices so that their customers will not just head across the border,” he said.

The month-long bazaar is organised by Lawas District Council for traders to ply their goods, particularly food and drinks for Muslims to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan which started yesterday.

The council made available 101 trading lots this year and organising chairman, Mohd Supaih Hamdan, who is also Lawas District Officer, said it had received overwhelming response from locals.

A wide array of choices of unique local cuisine, cakes and fruits are available together with other items such as smoked fish Tahai and other products from the cottage industries in the district.

The bazaar was a brain child of Awang Tengah, who has contributed financial assistance annually in providing proper sheds in allocated trading lots for the benefit of both traders and patrons.

Supaih advised traders to be ethical and adhere to the fasting month obligations as spelt out by their religious teachings.

Also present at the function were local Muslim and non-Muslim community leaders and heads of government department in the district.

‘Steer clear of profiteering’/ August 12, 2010, Thursday