Confiscated Stalls Changed Saleha's Life

Saleha Abdullah, 58, vividly remembers the day local authorities confiscated her roadside stall approximately 15 years ago. The memory remains fresh, marked by the profound distress she felt as she sat silently, holding back tears, and watched her means of earning a living, including her umbrella and other equipment, being systematically loaded onto a truck.

This was not an isolated incident. The experience of being pursued by local authorities was a recurring one throughout the two years Saleha spent selling nasi lemak on the streets of Kampung Pandan. Each confiscation represented a significant blow to her efforts to make a living.

Her story highlights the challenges faced by informal vendors operating in public spaces. The constant threat of confiscation and the emotional toll it takes underscore the precariousness of their livelihoods, often dependent on small roadside operations.

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She sat down stiffly without saying a word, holding back tears with a broken heart, watching the umbrella and other equipment that were her source of livelihood being loaded onto a truck one by one.