Zulhas Purchases Goods from 19 MSMEs, Traders: Alhamdulillah, We Are Very Happy
A total of 19 MSME traders around Jalan Dr. Kusuma Atmaja, Jakarta, received an unexpected windfall on Monday (31/8). All of their goods were purchased by the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Zulkifli Hasan, to be distributed free of charge to the public in conjunction with his birthday.
The variety of traders whose goods were purchased ranged from siomay and Madurese-style duck sellers to fried snacks, pecel lele, ketoprak, chicken noodles, soto, meatballs, and beverage vendors. This action not only provided the traders with a large volume of sales but also allowed them to participate in sharing food with the local community.
The traders initially admitted to being shocked when they were suddenly approached and informed that their entire stock would be bought. Ray, a fried snack vendor who has been trading in the area for a long as time, said he did not expect such an unexpected blessing.
“Alhamdulillah, I am very happy. The goods are sold out, and the buyers are happy too. Happy birthday, Mr Zulhas, may you remain healthy and your fortune continue to flow,” said Ray in a written statement on Monday (31/8/2026).
Beyond the traders, the joy was also shared by an online motorcycle taxi driver who expressed surprise and happiness at receiving free food amidst his activities of transporting passengers. He was merely passing by when he noticed a crowd of residents gathered around the food stalls.
“At first, I thought there was an event. It turns out the food is free, treated by Mr Zulhas because of his birthday. Alhamdulillah, a blessing for today. Thank you, Mr Zulhas,” said the driver.
The purchased goods were subsequently distributed to residents free of charge. The traders’ carts were adorned with posters reading, ‘FREE FOOD TODAY, treated by Mr Zulhas for his birthday. Signed, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs - Resident of 3rd Floor, Graha Mandiri’.
It did not take long for residents to gather around the traders’ carts. Employees, security guards, cleaning staff, scavengers, online taxi drivers, and passers-by all joined in to enjoy the available food and drinks.
For the traders, the event was an extraordinary experience as their goods were purchased in bulk and enjoyed by the public. The atmosphere of the area, which is typically a place for residents to seek meals, became lively due to the free food distribution.
On the other hand, this action also provided an opportunity for MSME traders to introduce their products to more people. Amidst the usual daily activities, the moment served as a significant windfall for small business owners around the Graha Mandiri area.