KUALA LUMPUR: Vendors and tenants at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) are glad to be able to return to business in conjunction with the Umno general assembly after a two-year hiatus.

       Traditional Malay headgear, tanjak, maker and seller Fadzi Yusoff said the business opportunity at the four-day event would help him revive his business after being badly affected by the pandemic.

       His team of five have been selling tanjak at every general assembly at the WTCKL since 2015 but business came to a halt in the last two years.

       “Our business was badly affected and now is our chance to see a revival,” he said.

       Fadzi, 38, said the tanjak design called “Solekan” was handmade by his team members.

       The “Layar Samudera” (sailing on the sea) design, on the other hand, is the most sought after, especially among the youths.

       Aside from selling the traditional motif headgear, the team called Tanjak Iman, also uses red fabric with Umno’s logo as a motif in conjunction with the assembly.

       “The Layar Samudera is very famous among the youth wings,” added Fadzi, who is from Gombak, Selangor.

       A festive atmosphere outside the main entrance of the party’s headquarters was seen as food and accessory vendors filled up the spaces, along with buskers.

       Leather accessories vendor Zailawati Yazid, 56, from Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, said she was happy to return to WTCKL after a two-year break.

       She said this was an opportunity for her to rebuild her business that was affected not just by the Covid-19 pandemic but a recent fire at her physical store in Sungai Buloh.

       “My store caught fire, resulting in losses around RM100,000. I hope by doing business here, I will be able to recoup,” she said.

       Zailawati, who operates the booth with her husband, said she has been a vendor at the WTCKL event annually over the past 10 years.

       Due to the pandemic, however, she resorted to trading online.

       “Previously, we would be placed inside the building but due to the standard operating procedure (SOP), we are located outdoors with other food vendors,” she said.

       A shop tenant inside the building who sold traditional clothes, Maleehah Omar, 46, was optimistic the event would proceed smoothly despite the Covid-19 risks.

       She said most of people have been vaccinated and have received booster shots.

       “As long as the delegates follow the SOP such as wearing masks and regularly sanitising their hands, I am sure the disease will not spread,” said the Kelantanese.

       Maleehah was also glad that the event could be held after two years as it was a means to provide them with some business opportunities.

       “My regular customers are delegates from Sabah,” she said.