KUCHING: The weekend night food market which is being planned at India Street is likely to focus on heritage food including some local delicacies.
Kuching North City Commissioner Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the market would be operational next year and that a briefing would be conducted for the India Street owners next January.
Wee added that crafts and sounvenirs would also be on sale at the market.
“As Sarawakians, it is our duty to promote our unique cultures and showcase unity and tolerance with all the different races selling their own food and sitting together for meals.
“ It will be a place for togetherness, too. We need to brand it well so it will be able to sustain. We have hosted the heritage food festival successfully twice and the three-day event attracted a huge crowd.”
On the proposed weekend night food market, Wee added: “There are a few logistical issues like storage, staff and maintenance after the stalls are closed that need to be addressed.”
When interviewed at India Street, yesterday, stall operator Ismail Hamdan, who has been operating there since 2005, welcomed the night food market.
“Most of the time, after 6pm, India Street will be very quiet and all the shops will be closed.
“The night food market will not only help us to earn more money but will attract more tourists to India Street,” he said, adding that the market would also bring life to the night atmosphere there.
“The authority should plan properly the market by dividing it into different categories such as food from different races and culture, handicrafts and other things to attract the people’s attention.
“India Street is a very strategic location for the night food market because everyone from far and near knows where it is and what is available there,” he said.
Another stall operator, who only wished to be known as Tay, suggested a survey be done first before the implementation of the night food market.
“From the survey, we can see whether people agree or not to it.
“Some of us who have been selling since morning will not continue our business until night as we need to rest,” he said.
Wee has revealed that the night market, which will have 50 stalls, will open from 6pm to 10pm either on Friday and Saturday or from Friday to Sunday.
