Tamu treat in Sabah

May 1, 2016
By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nst.com.my

PENAMPANG: Its cheaper to buy fresh groceries from the many weekly open markets or "tamu" in Sabah.

Most districts would have its unique spot where the tamu comes to life for a day or two with an array of products.

Its where hawkers would pile up their greens, medicine men would sell their soul to their magic rubs, blacksmiths display their sharp tools and craftsmen show off their weaving skills.

At the Donggongon town here, the tamu, which comes under the purview of the District Council, starts 5pm sharp every Wednesday and officially ends at the same time on Friday.

The sight of vehicles double parked on the streets, people pulling or pushing trolleys, butchers heaving cleavers and women spraying water on bonsai plants tells of how vibrant the tamu can be.

Fresh produce are the most popular items in the many weekly tamu available and in Donggongon its the organic stuff, wild vegetables and traditional items that takes the top spot in the search list among consumers.

Nani Durahman, 43, who lives in Inanam, Kota Kinabalu said the tamu is like a supermarket for there to buy weekly groceries.

"Vegetables and fish are sold cheaper here compared to supermarkets," she said and her budget for her family of nine is set at RM50.

She also vouched for the freshness of the goods sold at the tamu.

Wild fish such as the mahseer (pelian or kelah), freshwater prawns (udang galah or insasangau), variety of catfish (baung and patin) eels (lindung or belut) and carps (lampam jawa, gayomato and tabaus) are sold along with cultured fish such as tilapia.

These are sold from RM15 to RM40 per kilogramme and several of the products are occassionaly sold live.

Nani however tells of a policy held by most housewives like - never leave without haggling for the price.

"I would always bargain but I would nornmally come at once the main crowd leaves. You can get more products when the hawkers are about to leave," she said.

Then there are hawkers who comes from the east coast of Sabah selling dried anchovices, fish and prawns.

The rattling sound of coffee grinding machines plus the smell emitting from the section and the colourful cakes on display, enticing people's palates.

Mechanic Justin Sunggil, 26, said he would walk straight to the cake section looking for the hinompuka (steamed cake wrapped with banana leaf) and the pinjaram (sweet freshly fried cakes made from rice flour).

Both types are sold between 20 sen to 50 sen, depending on its size but its the freshness that wins in terms of value for money.

"But there are also other choices," he said but noted a "manly" section would be a spot where tools, parangs, cast nets, chainsaws, ropes and other accessories are sold.

"Here you can buy a lot of things, even potted plants, tobacco, handicrafts, medicinal plants and occassionally you can find tourists taking pictures of everything," he added.

But for Justin the ultimate "fear factor" item would be the "butod" or sago worms and sometimes the "tumbakon" or sea worms.

"Nothing beats those two items when it comes to either luring, distracting or scaring people."

But for Justin, this was what makes the tamu interesting apart from allowing everybody buy groceries or other items with a good bargain.

Other popular scheduled tamu days are in Tamparuli and Membakut on Wednesdays; Telipok on Thursdays, Papar on Saturdays; Kota Kinabalu Gaya street, Kota Belud and  Tuaran on Sundays.