As a working mother of three, balancing my responsibilities can be challenging, especially during the fasting month of Ramadhan. With limited time to prepare meals, I often rely on Gerai Ramadhan to purchase food and drinks for my family to break our fast.
A few days ago, I bought a delicious-looking whole grilled chicken from one of the stall vendors.
However, when it was time for sungkai, I was disappointed to find that the chicken was not thoroughly cooked – there were traces of blood inside. This meant I had to delay our meal and put the chicken in the oven to finish cooking it properly.
Unfortunately, I am not alone in this experience. Some of my colleagues have also faced similar issues when buying food from Gerai Ramadhan.
One shared her frustration after discovering that the karipap ayam she bought had almost no filling inside, despite being clearly labelled as such. Another bought sugarcane juice, only to find out it had already gone bad when they took a sip. As paying customers, we expect and deserve quality in the food we purchase. Vendors have a responsibility to be honest about the products they sell.
Imagine if someone had no other food available for sungkai, only to find that what they bought was inedible or had gone stale.
This not only causes inconvenience but also defeats the purpose of enjoying a proper meal after a long day of fasting.
To be clear, not all vendors are at fault, and I am not generalising the issue.
Many hardworking and honest vendors take great care in preparing and selling their food.
However, we are in the holy month of Ramadhan – a time for reflection, honesty and seeking blessings. Vendors should uphold these values by ensuring that the food they sell is fresh, well-prepared and worth the price.
Disappointed
