In Shah Alam market, locals moan of Bangladeshi takeover

This Bangladeshi trader (right) enjoys good sales at the Plaza Sri Muda wet market in Shah Alam. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

(The Malay Mail) – Businessman J. Singgam, a regular customer at the market, said many of the Bangladeshis were married to Malaysians and this made it easier for them to obtain buisness licences as they used the names of their spouses to obtain them.

The wet market in Plaza Sri Muda here has turned into a mini Bangladeshi enclave as it has been dominated by workers from that country.

“Before this, they used to be stall assistants but now they run the stalls themselves,” said K. Gunasekaran, who drew the attention of The Malay Mail to the problem.   

The 43-year-old tuition teacher claimed the situation has worsened over the past three years.

“Nowadays, you hardly see any Malaysians shopping here. Soon, the Bangladeshis are going to monopolise the area,” he said.

“After work on Sunday evenings this market becomes their meeting place. The residents are afraid to even come to this area during that time.”

Another issue which irks Gunasekaran is the fact that beef is sold and cows slaughtered openly in the market.

“Previously, the slaughtering of cows was done in an isolated area at the back of the market. That is not the case with the foreigners who do not respect the sensitivities of the Hindus here,” he said.

Sundry shop owner M. Vanisri, 25, who has been operating in the market for six years, said her business had been affected.

“We pay rental and have licences to operate here. All of a sudden, others have come and taken over the market,” she said.

Vanisri said the foreigners sold their vegetables cheaper because they grew them at their own farms.

“We cannot compete with their prices as we buy our stock from suppliers. For instance, if I sell a bunch of spinach for RM2.30, they sell it for RM2,” she said.

Businessman J. Singgam, a regular customer at the market, said many of the Bangladeshis were married to Malaysians and this made it easier for them to obtain buisness licences as they used the names of their spouses to obtain them.

A Bangladeshi trader, Mohamad Shahalam Hossen, is married to a Malay and even showed The Malay Mail his licence which appeared to be registered under his wife’s name.

“I have been operating here for the past eight years. Business has been good and my customers are Malaysians and foreigners,” claimed the 38-year-old.

However, only Bangladeshis seemed to be frequenting his sundry shop, which took up four lots at the crowded market.

A chicken seller, V. Guna, said foreigners only purchased items from traders of their own nationality.

Customer May Ng, 33, avoids shopping at the stalls manned by Bangladeshis as she feels intimidated.

“I feel safer buying groceries from Malaysians, as I will not get cheated. I noticed the Bangladeshis sell items cheaper to their own countrymen,” the housewife explained.

Traders in the old market located behind the plaza are also feeling the pinch.

Norazah Mohd Nasir, a vegetable seller, claimed foreigners find it convenient to buy from other Bangladeshis as they speak the same language.

“Sometimes, Bangladeshi customers would ask the price of vegetables at my stall, but they never buy anything,” said the 35-year-old.

A wholesaler, who wanted to be known as Segar, urged the authorities to take action against foreigners before the situation gets out of hand.

“When I first applied for a licence to operate here 15 years ago, one of the requirements was that traders had to be from Shah Alam. It’s puzzling how these foreigners can obtain licences without much hassle.”

A customer, who wished to be known as Robert, felt local employers should be blamed as they are the ones renting out the lots to foreigners.