Sales Of Spent Hens At Sibu Central Market Reach Hundreds Daily Ahead Of Gawai

By Ibrahim Mahsen

SIBU, May 30 (Bernama) -- Demand for spent hens, a key ingredient in preparing manuk pansoh, has surged at Sibu Central Market, with sales reaching hundreds of birds daily ahead of the Gawai Dayak celebration which will begin Monday. 

Spent hens are the main ingredient used to prepare manuk pansoh, a traditional Dayak dish in which marinated chicken is placed in bamboo and cooked over an open fire.

A Bernama survey at the market today found stalls selling spent hens wrapped in newspapers drawing large numbers of Dayak shoppers making last-minute preparations for Gawai Dayak, which will be celebrated on June 1.

A trader, Karen Mina, said based on her more than 20 years of experience at the market, sales of spent hens usually peak during the final two days before Gawai, with demand reaching about 300 birds a day.

"I am here early every morning to wrap and arrange the chickens for sale. Customers come not only from around Sibu, but also from Sibu Jaya and Kanowit," she told Bernama.

Karen said the spent hens are sourced from layer farms in Sibu and sold at between RM16 and RM25 each, depending on size.

Meanwhile, another trader, Angelina Mau, said she and her partner have been selling about 100 spent hens a day over the past few days, with sales expected to rise to as many as 200 birds daily at the last minute before the celebration.

She said the wrapped spent hens are sold at between RM20 and RM25 each, depending on size, and that their stall operates from 8 am to 5 pm. 

Besides purchasing spent hens to prepare manuk pansoh, shoppers were also buying various raw ingredients, vegetables, fruits, freshwater produce such as prawns and other necessities for the celebration. 

Sibu Central Market is the largest covered wet market in the country which houses more than 1,100 stalls and serves as a one-stop centre for residents to obtain daily necessities and festive supplies.

-- BERNAMA