KUANTAN: Each time the traffic light at the Indera Mahkota intersection here turns red and vehicles begin to slow down to stop, two boys carrying bottles containing sliced mangoes would be spotted manoeuvring through the traffic with their wares.
Clad in yellow long sleeve t-shirts, gloves, apron, cap and mouth covers, the duo will begin their walk against the traffic flow holding a poster written "Mangga Asam Boi" promoting their products in their right hand and carrying the mangoes in their left hand.
The street hawkers both aged 19 only have a few minutes to "coax" motorists to lower their vehicle windscreen to buy the mangoes before the traffic light turns green.
On each occasion when commuters buy the fruits, they greet the customers by saying "Terima kasih, selamat memandu (thank you, drive safely)" as they hand over the plastic bottle and continue their walk.
This has been a daily routine for two friends - Mohamad Zafrie Mohamad Safri and Syamir Sabri - who are among dozens of peddlers selling bottled mango pickles at traffic light signals in the state-capital.
They earn a commission of RM1.50 for each bottle sold and can bring home between RM75 and RM150 daily depending on the weather, and traffic volume.
As Zafrie takes a quick break by the road side, he tells the New Straits Times that he has been doing this for more than a year and earned enough to buy himself a new motorcycle a few months ago.
The eldest of two, Zafrie said he only attended a tahfiz school in Balok and did not sit for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination so it was tough to find a proper job or further his studies.
"At the moment, I have no plans to further my studies....maybe later. I want to work and save enough money before deciding on my next step....either work elsewhere or open my own business.
"The job is tiring especially in the hot weather but I am already used to it. It requires me to walk and the further I walk, it is an opportunity to earn more.
"Walking about 10 kilometres in a day is quite normal and I do not feel it. Perhaps it is due to the moving traffic and the people I meet," he said, adding the real challenge was to sell as many bottles as possible before the light turned green.
Zafrie said they operated as a team as some of his friends would be involved in processing and packing the mangoes before the peddlers collect to sell at traffic light junctions.
"I work between 11am and 4pm daily, and can sell an average about 60 bottles a day. On each trip, I only bring about 15 bottles to sell to customers while the supplies will be kept in a cooler box.
"There are various types of customers as some will immediately buy the pickles while some will ask when it was processed and some will give various advice including asking me to improve myself or equip myself with skills.
"Some even asked if I needed another job....sometimes people buy more than what they need as they take pity on us for being out on our feet for long hours under the hot sun," he said.
For Syamir from Balok, he said the increase in vehicles during lunch hour, after working hours and during weekends would allow him to make more sales.
He also said getting customers was not easy and would require a lot of patience.
"Sometimes you can sell about 10 bottles by walking less than 100m but there are occasions I have to walk about 300m before making a sale.
"I have no problems walking in the hot sun but when it rains heavily then I have to wait at the bus stop and suffer a drop in sales.
"Previously, the peddlers only consist of (male) youths but lately there are some girls and adults trying their luck.
"I was told some lost their jobs due to the pandemic while others wanted to earn extra income," he said, adding his venture began about a year ago after he spotted an advertisement on Facebook hiring vendors to sell the mangoes.
Rogayah Mohamad, 20, said peddlers would normally operate at traffic lights at major intersections as the waiting time would be longer, allowing them to walk quite a distance.
"We do not disturb or pester anyone to buy the (mango) pickles. We will carry the fruits and walk among the vehicles, and when a customer lowers their windscreen or signals to us, then we will walk towards them.
"During these challenging times, everyone is trying to earn a living and at some areas, the vendors are even fresh graduates who cannot secure proper jobs.
"Other than the usual mango pickles, these days some even sell cheesecakes and chocolate brownies at the traffic lights," she said.
Street hawkers could be spotted at major traffic light junctions here including in Permatang Badak and Taman Tas during the day offering the pickled fruits in bottles which are sold at RM10 each.
The recipe which includes green mangoes with sour plum sprinkled with chili and salt has proven to be a craze among youngsters and the elderly.