‘Basah Tekak’ after Tarawih version of Sungai Petani youth
SUNGAI PETANI: From a quiet and abandoned lane that invites the risk of crime, it is now bright and busy with business activities.
The brainstorming and creative combination of three young people made between Jalan Dewa and Jalan Patani, in Sungai Petani named ‘Basah Tekak’ lively with various interesting activities including exhibitions, buying and selling and relaxing locations, as well as becoming a new focus in the city during Ramadan this.
Its founder, Ainol Zulkarnain Zainal Abidin, 39, said that as a result of combining his ideas with two other friends who are also young entrepreneurs, they managed to attract the interest of 16 participants consisting of young people in the bazaar lot.
Ainol said, among the sales there are accessories, Raya clothing for men and women, food, various types of coffee, fresh flowers and Raya biscuits.
“This alley is dark, the crime rate is grazing and so on and the cleanliness is not maintained so after we entered this premises we saw that this alley has potential and we started to call friends of the local community to use this alley to do something… so from a small – small burst into Basah Tekak,” he said.
According to this 39-year-old native of Sungai Petani, with a capital of RM20,000 in collaboration with some of his friends, the 150-meter-long lane is now clean and decorated with various vintage-themed decorations.
He said, the name ‘Basah Tekak’ was chosen in conjunction with the words of old people who often drink coffee to quench their thirst.
“The majority of us are coffee shop traders, so during the fasting month after Tarawih, first of all we have to find teh tarik coffee and so on… so the word comes from this Malay idiom wet throat which means we come to a place to wet our throat.
“In addition to wet throat activities, we present several other variations such as (sales of) bundles of Malay clothes and so on… in addition to socializing, we shop and do economic activities,” said Ainol Zulkarnain again.
Meanwhile, the hallway decoration statement, who is also a muralist, Fattah Shahari, 30, said he started painting wall murals along the hallway starting early last February.
He said, the mural painting aims to attract all groups to go there because apart from shopping, they also have the opportunity to take memorable photos.
Fatah explained that paintings with an urban concept and the atmosphere of the village can use old nostalgia when celebrating in the village.
“The concept of Raya is like in the village, if you look around here from the beginning to the end there are people wandering around, children cooking and painting the house.
“The month of fasting people will come to our bazaar to have fun and see the atmosphere around here. I want to make it festive so there is something we can take pictures near the wall at the same time people are buying Raya preparations and we can take photos together,” he said.
One of the participants, Ika Rasman, 26, said that the opportunity given to do business there was utilized as best as possible by selling women’s casual clothes that fit the tastes of today’s young people.
She said, the reception she received at Basah Tekak was very encouraging because the location brings together entrepreneurs and young visitors and makes it easier for sellers and buyers to understand the same needs and desires.
“Welcome , Alhamdulillah, from the first day until today, people have been coming non-stop because I think people want to check out the lorong area that has never held any events,” said Ika.
For another participant, Azad Ashraf Muhammad Sani, 30, the site rental price offered is among the lowest, which is RM950 per month, suitable for young people who want to enter the field of entrepreneurship and thus improve the family’s economy in addition to preparations for celebrating Aidilfitri.
He explained, this can indirectly provide opportunities for people like him to do business compared to other bazaar sites that charge high rent.
“As young people, we see this as an opportunity in terms of generating income, that is, we create ‘vendors’, we create business activities.
“At the same time, we can make it a gathering place with friends, especially in this Eid season, we can see our friends from outside the city and gather here,” said Azad Ashraf giving a suggestion.
For visitors Muhammad Aiman Roslee, 24, as far as he knows, there has not yet been a business space like this introduced in the state of Kedah where visitors can buy goods, drink coffee and take selfies.
In fact, the prices of goods here too, he said, are very reasonable and can be used as a family visit location, especially young people who like the new atmosphere and ‘happening’.
This Wet Throat Bazar lane is open every day throughout the month of Ramadan from 6 pm to 2 am.
This business site also received approval from the Sungai Petani Municipal Council (MPSP) to make this lane a new attraction to the district.
