From EVs to funky belacan: Shopping bazaar makes comeback at Umno’s annual gathering in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - Tens of thousands of Umno members gathered at the party headquarters in downtown Kuala Lumpur this year have another reason to cheer, apart from last weekend’s resounding by-election victory in Kelantan: The familiar and tempting sight of stalls selling tasty local delicacies, clothing, trinkets and even cars.

The bustling ground floor of the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) has been filled with over a hundred stalls and booths from day one of the Umno annual general assembly, which runs from Aug 21 to 24.

Here, one can gawk at Chinese automaker BYD’s electric vehicles (EVs) – nothing here priced under six figures – browse traditional Malay outfits and matching accessories, or stock up on funky fermented condiments like belacan and cincalok from RM8 (S$2).

Among the booths thronged by shoppers are also those set up by government agencies, mostly led by Umno ministers or deputy ministers. These information counters offer assistance on obtaining microloans or grants and other public services.

As it stands, the number of stalls falls short of pre-2018 times when all four floors of the building would be occupied. Umno’s headquarters is located in the 38-storey tower above the cavernous halls that also houses government agencies.

The annual bazaar was downsized after the 2018 General Election when the Umno-led Barisan Nasional alliance was toppled from power, and then hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in subsequent years.

This year, the atmosphere is better and brighter, after the Malay nationalist party successfully

recaptured the Nenggiri seat

in a state by-election in Kelantan, the stronghold of its nemesis, Parti Islam SeMalaysia. 

“After Umno lost power (in 2018), the atmosphere was gloomy, especially during the 2019 (Umno general assembly). However, Umno regained its strength by collaborating with other parties to return to government,” said Pahang Umno Youth secretary Mohd Azly Norzan. “The cheerfulness has returned.”

The four-day Umno assembly is attended by 6,433 official delegates, comprising grassroots party leaders from across the country.

In addition, there are tens of thousands of Umno members from big towns and small villages who tend to mill around outside the meeting halls, sit down at cafes with central leaders, and listen to the speeches via giant screens put up along the wide corridors.

A first-time vendor at the bazaar, Captain (Ret) Kamarudin Ali, 54, sells local delicacies from Melaka state such as belacan, cincalok and durian dodol. “We also sell products from other Malay small and medium enterprises. The most popular items are gula melaka (palm sugar) and dodol,” he told The Straits Times, adding that business has been good for the 45-year-old family business.

During the interview, his partner was busy addressing a customer’s question about whether the cincalok bottle might leak after travelling a long distance.

At the building’s entrance, Mr Ken Lim, along with two other sales representatives, was manning a booth displaying BYD Dolphin and Seal EVs.

“We have gathered a few sales leads, but of course, we have yet to sign any sales on the spot. We are here to create more awareness and promote ourselves to the crowd,” said Mr Lim. But he is optimistic that some delegates will finalise their orders at the BYD showroom after viewing the cars on display.

WTCKL group managing director Irmohizam Ibrahim told ST: “This returning crowd indicates that the Malaysian economy is on the road to recovery, reflecting public confidence to shop and buy products here.”