Malaysia’s durian glut triggers ‘happy hour’ frenzy in Sarawak: ‘it’s cheap and worth it’

The unmistakable smell of durians from rows of trucks laden with the thorny greenish-yellow fruit signals the arrival of the long-awaited season for lovers of the “king of fruits” in Sarawak, Malaysia, boosted by an abundant supply of local durians now flooding the market. The surplus, particularly of the “kampung” variety from the south of the state, inspired trader Akmal Hakim Saidan, 29, and his siblings to offer rock-bottom prices – as low as 1 ringgit (0.25 US cents) per fruit to draw...