From 5 Sen To Rm5 In A Space Of 60 Years

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RECENTLY, I went to the wet market at Pandan Jaya just after the border with Kuala Lumpur. At a roadside, I saw an elderly woman placing sliced pineapple in transparent plastic boxes for sale. I had just unlocked my car when she called out to me after noticing that I was looking at her.
I walked across the busy road and could see her car was loaded with small Josapine pineapples as the rear hatch was fully raised to display the fruits. I enjoy sweet pineapples greatly and checked all five boxes on the table scanning for the sweetest, but they all looked the same.
I then asked for the price and was told each box is RM5, which is not cheap or excessive. I was prepared to buy if the price was acceptable, as petty traders, hawkers and small businesses need support from the public. It would be a shame to bargain if prices are already reasonable.
The Malay woman is friendly and humble, with a weather-beaten face and teeth that had seen better days. But she is far from ugly, as her warm smile was genuine. She asked me where I duduk (Malay word for stay or sit). I replied cheekily I am berdiri (standing).
I inquired whether the old hatchback car was driven by her and she said yes. I then asked where she duduk and she replied Johor. But this does not make sense to me as the state is too distant. After some enquiries, she disclosed that she is now renting a place not far from the wet market.
And the pineapples were grown and transported in bulk from Johor by a family member, as it would not justify sending only a car-load over a long distance and having to pay tolls and fuel, apart from wear and tear of the car and spending much precious time travelling.
(Image: Pexels/Carlo Martin Alcordo)The woman must have worked under the sun in the farm for much of her life and was no stranger to hard work. While others much younger would rather spend time chatting with neighbours, this sprightly lady prefers to load her old car with pineapples to sell them by the roadside. Bravo!
Instead of just waiting idly for customers, she skinned a few fruits to show how sweet the pineapples were, which can be seen through the transparent plastic boxes. I am happy that talking to her has drawn many other customers to cross the busy road to inquire or buy from her.
Over 60 years ago, I frequently bought pineapple from an elderly Javanese man who would load a big basket of Morris pineapple and pedal all the way to the roadside in front of La Salle Klang. The smaller ones were sold at five sen each and bigger ones for 10 sen, including skinning.
Often, I would pick a larger one and request for the price to be five sen and the Javanese man, bless his kind soul, would agree. Hanging from the bicycle handlebar was a bottle of dark soya sauce. Sometimes, I would pour the sauce over the skinned fruit while holding it by the stem.
Those were the halcyon days over 60 years ago that my classmates recall fondly. It was a period of peace, tranquillity and happiness.
Instead of holding a smartphone today, I had one hand holding my bicycle handle and the other a pineapple as I pedalled home and gave myself a treat.
YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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