Tawau - Are you looking for good quality hand-me-down apparels? Head for the pasar rombengan and you would not be disappointed with the goods offered here.
Just name any of the worlds leading brand names like Yves Saint Laurent, Polo Club, Lazenger, Giordano, Boss, Edwin, Nautica and many more. All of them are available here.
Men`s and ladies wear like shirts, pants, sweaters, belts and shoes as well as roomwear including blankets, bed sheets and pillow cases bearing the famous signature varieties can be easily found at this bazaar.
Never mind the secondhand merchandise. They are in good condition and the bonus is that their price is ridiculously cheap.
Even members from the high levels of the society including those with the Datuk title could be seen patronising this bazaar, looking for items to satisfy their whims and fancies.
Three main Locations
This bazaar is well known as the wholesale trading centre in Sabah offering used clothing and household items. Tawau is the only district in the state that provides a special spot for this activity.
Similar activity is in existence at the weekly tamu or bazaars in other districts but the traders usually move around depending on the location of these markets.
Here, the pasar rombengan are spread over three localities -- Sabindo, Jalan Damai and Kampung Titingan that is also known as the Ice Box.
The market, which operates from 6/7am until 6pm daily, is immensely popular with patrons coming from outside Sabah and even as far as from Peninsular Malaysia across the South China Sea.
In Tawau, it is not a surprise if one hears residents joking with each other with words like:
"Cantik baju, beli di mana? (Nice shirt, where did you buy it?)
Di Rom (At Rom).
Betul bah (Is that so?)
"Ya, di Rombengan (Yes, at the Rombengan)
Artistes
"Many popular artistes in the country including the singers and actors patronise this market," said 45-year-old Bahri Shahrir, a trader at the market in Sabindo.
According to Bahri, professionals like lawyers could be regularly seen coming to the bazaar looking for the garment brands of their choice.
"Foreign tourists are also regulars here. Usually they come to take pictures or look for items that they want to acquire", he told Bernama at the market here.
Bahri, who has been trading at pasar rombengan for more than 10 years, said his income has been good and the market has the potential to be turned into a great tourist spot for Tawau.
"This market would be more attractive for the tourists if more facilities are provided, he said.
A trader at the Jalan Damai pasar rombengan, Dayang Syahilin, said initially she was only a patron at the market looking for secondhand garments.
However realising that selling used items could earn her a lucrative income, the 30-year-old decided to start a business there two years ago.
Tough Job
In the initial weeks, the going was tough for her business, admitted Dayang, who earns between RM450 and RM600 from selling secondhand apparels at the market.
However Dayang`s perseverance as well as encouragement and assistance given by her husband and children has managed to push her through the acid test.
"We obtain the supplies from an agent here. We purchase the clothes in bulk and each of the bundle costs between RM300 and RM800 depending on the type of items", she said.
The goods are sourced from various countries including Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Australia.
According to Dayang, apart for the quality and relatively low price offered for the goods on sale, the other factor that pulls the people to patronise the market is that they can bargain for the items they are interested to buy.
A patron of the market, 45-year-old Jaudin Ganang said he came to know the markets existence from a family member who is a policeman in Tawau.
"He told me that if I am looking for cheap but good quality goods, then I should visit the pasar rombengan. Therefore I came here and found that goods offered for sale are attractive and cheap," said the Ranau-born Jaudin. By Nashir Mansor
Source:
http://www.bernama.com (November 10, 2008)
