Floods: Batu Pahat traders claim enough supply of perishables but expensive

BATU PAHAT, March 9 (Bernama) --  The flood disaster that hit Batu Pahat currently has not only disrupted the activities of residents but also affected the income of traders, especially those selling perishables.

Vegetable trader Shahrizal Jaisnin, 34, said the flood that hit his business area in Parit Yaani caused him to use Jalan Tongkang Pechah as an alternative route here because many of the main routes to Batu Pahat were flooded.

"The water started rising on Friday and I have to do business every day because everyone wants perishables like vegetables and fish.

"Although the supply of such food is available the prices are higher than usual, maybe due to this flood as some are taking the opportunity to increase the price of goods.

"For example, the vegetables I bought for about RM3 to RM4 a kilogramme before the flood are now RM7 a kilo," he told Bernama when met at the Public Market in Parit Yaani here.

He did not have the heart to sell at a higher price because he also sympathised with the local residents who were flood victims like himself.

He spends about RM4,000 to buy fish and vegetables in Batu Pahat every day despite the flood but never made any returns.

He said this was after many of his customers from Parit Yaani and Yong Peng were cut off because some routes, especially the main Yong Peng-Muar road, were still flooded after Sungai Terusan overrflowed its banks.

"The fish and vegetables bought every day cannot be stored for too long and we decided to distribute them at the Temporary Relief Centre for the use of flood evacuees," he said.

Another trader, who wants to be known only as Hairul, 38, said that the prices of perishables had increased several times during floods, but this time doubled.

"We understand that the prices have gone up because of the long journey, but we hope the government can do something about this so that small traders like us do not suffer continuous losses," he said.

A check by Bernama found that only one stall selling wet food was open at Pekan Parit Yaani Market, Batu Pahat while about 10 others were closed because some traders were affected due to their houses being flooded.

-- BERNAMA