Generations of women sustain Kelantan's famed Siti Khadijah Market

Women make up more than 90 per cent of traders at Siti Khadijah Market, one of Kelantan’s best-known attractions.

Pasar Siti Khadijah as seen from above in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The market is one of Malaysian state's most well-known places for tourists to visit. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

Afifah Ariffin & Samuel Ng 23 Oct 2026 05:12PM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST KOTA BHARU, Kelantan: Every morning, 80-year-old Fatimah Farik opens her small clothing stall at Siti Khadijah Market, greeting customers and fellow traders she has known for decades.

The market's oldest trader is the fourth generation in her family to make a living through commerce, a tradition she has no intention of giving up.

"I've loved trading since I was young," she said. "It started with my father, then my mother, my brother and now me.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Fatimah's story reflects a defining feature of Kelantan's best-known market, where women make up more than 90 per cent of traders and continue to play a central role in the Malaysian state's economy.

Around 1,300 businesses operate at Siti Khadijah Market, selling everything from traditional Kelantanese food and snacks to clothing, textiles and household goods.

According to the Bumiputera Petty Traders Association of Pasar Siti Khadijah, the market's range of offerings and its predominantly female traders make it a popular draw for tourists.