KUALA LUMPUR – A TikTok user recently shared a frustrating encounter with what appeared to be a tantalising popiah that ended up breaking his tooth.
In the video, accompanied by captions like “sambungan popiah keras-keras” (extremely hard popiah) and “KPDNKK rampas” (the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seizure), the user @ejueju.okodoko showcased three popiah rolls in a plastic container, expressing regret and annoyance over the purchase that had his “future at stake”.
“This is my tooth (that just broke), and this is the popiah (that caused it),” he lamented.
Expressing his disbelief, he questioned the seller’s competence: “How do you people (referring to the popiah seller) do business? If you don’t know how to cook, then don’t do business.”
With a mix of pain and humour, he demonstrated the toughness of the popiah by attempting to bite into it, resulting in his dental mishap.
“Do you hear that?” he asks as the sound of the tooth hitting the floor is heard on the video.
To add a touch of irony, he resorted to crushing the spring roll in a mortar.
Despite his frustration, he clarified that his intention was not to harm the seller’s business but rather to highlight the importance of culinary competence in food ventures.
In the comments section, other netizens recounted their own unpleasant experiences at Ramadan bazaars.
One user, @awanggarik, shared: “Even in Kuantan, they sell spoiled and hard kuih. I have experienced something like this last year. This year I don’t even feel like going to the bazaar.”
Another user, Reen Mary, mentioned her painful encounter with an overly hard popiah purchased the day before.
Meanwhile, Azman Abkadir pointed out that the domestic trade ministry’s inspections, prompted by public complaints, had led some vendors to maintain food quality, cautioning against falling prey to unscrupulous sellers.
As complaints about Ramadan bazaar food mishaps surface, consumers are urged to remain vigilant. – March 15, 2024