Terengganu Fama rejects foreign trader market claim

Photo courtesy of The Star

Terengganu’s Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority has denied claims circulating on social media that foreign nationals were being allowed to trade at farmers’ markets under its supervision.

The state Fama office said the incident shown in a viral Facebook post did not take place at one of the farmers’ markets managed by the agency.

According to its statement on Sunday, the man believed to be a foreign national was filmed selling vegetables at Kuala Besut Morning Market. Fama said that location is separate from the markets operating under its authority.

Agency identifies two supervised markets

Terengganu Fama said it supervises only two farmers’ markets in the Besut district.

Jerteh Farmers’ Market operates every Thursday between 7am and 1pm, while Alor Lintang Farmers’ Market operates on Saturdays during the same hours.

The agency’s response drew a distinction between these official Fama-supervised locations and the Kuala Besut Morning Market where the trader was reportedly recorded.

The clarification followed the spread of a social media post on Saturday showing a man believed to be a non-Malaysian selling vegetables at a market in Besut.

Viral post prompted official clarification

Claims attached to the video suggested that a foreign trader had been permitted to operate at a farmers’ market overseen by Fama.

The agency rejected that description of the location and said the incident had no connection to either of its two farmers’ markets in the district.

Fama’s statement focused on correcting the identification of the market. It did not provide further details about the trader, his nationality or the management arrangements at Kuala Besut Morning Market.

The response therefore does not establish whether the individual was authorised to trade at the morning market. It states only that the location was not a Fama-supervised farmers’ market.

The episode highlights how images shared online can quickly create confusion when different types of local markets are described as though they are operated by the same authority.

What it means for foreigners in Malaysia

The statement does not announce any new rule affecting foreign residents, visitors or traders. It is a clarification about which markets fall under Fama’s supervision. Foreign nationals planning to trade in Malaysia must still follow the licensing, immigration and local-authority requirements that apply to their circumstances. Anyone relying on claims from social media should verify the market’s operator and the applicable rules with the relevant authority.

31 August 2026