RANTAU PANJANG: Once a bustling hub for shoppers, especially tourists, Rantau Panjang has now become quiet and deserted in recent years.
Its vibrant market, which was once crowded with vehicles and tour buses, is now eerily empty, even on weekends.
According to traders, nearly 50 per cent of the 2,000 vendors in the area have closed their businesses and moved to other locations to survive.
Many premises are now shuttered, with "for rent" signs posted on storefronts.
Even the once-popular Siti Fatimah Bazaar, which boasts over 300 shop units, has seen a sharp decline, with fewer than 10 vendors still operating.
Some traders claim they haven't made a single sale for months, forcing them to shut down their stalls and seek alternative employment.
Siti Fatimah Bazaar Traders Association chairman Zamri Idris, 58, said he had been struggling due to a lack of customers for the past five years.
He noted that traders are now relying on school holidays and weekends to boost sales, but even that isn't enough to sustain their businesses.
"We used to have around 2,000 traders, but now only about 1,000 are left. Many have been forced to relocate," he said.
Zamri also pointed the phenomenon of traffic congestion now occurring in Rantau Panjang due to people heading to Thailand.
"To attract more visitors or tourists, we can't just focus on selling products. We need added attractions that draw people in.
"These days people want places where they can take photos and enjoy themselves, but Rantau Panjang has seen little development or change over the years, causing people to go elsewhere."
He emphasised that both the state government and private sector must play a role in revitalising the area to bring back the crowds that once flocked to the market.
Meanwhile, 68-year-old trader Solehah Arsyad shared the hardships faced by many small business owners.
"There are times when my shop goes for almost two weeks without a single customer," she said.
"It's tough to make a living here now. My daughter ran a shop for three months but made no income at all, so she had to close down and find a job elsewhere. If we had to rely solely on sales to support our families, it would be impossible under these circumstances."
Solehah, who still holds out hope for a revival of Rantau Panjang, noted that only eight traders remain in Siti Fatimah Bazaar, while the others have long closed their shops due to the lack of customers.
"I hope Rantau Panjang can return to its former glory," she said.