Abang Johari hands out green packets to a recipient. With him, from right, are Wee, Ng, Morshidi and Wahap.
KUCHING: Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg has complimented Plaza Merdeka Shopping Mall for helping to create shopping trends in the city.
“You have contributed a lot in this part of Kuching in the past three years, and you have done very well in trying to promote unity among the various races and faiths in Kuching,” he said at Plaza Merdeka’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on Saturday.
He handed out green packets and festive gift packs to 40 orphans. The sponsors were Plaza Merdeka’s tenants Parkson, Everrise, Burger King, BCCK, SCR Express, Treasureland, Blue Cube, Momo, D.O.V Box and My Pretzels. Plaza Merdeka Holdings managing director Dato Steve Ng said the mall was believed to be the only organisation in the state to introduce voluntary fasting programme for non-Muslim staff.
He opined that non-Muslims should try fasting so as to understand what it was like to fast for a whole month, adding: “I tried it for a day, and I could not handle it.”
Ng said the mall would focus on tourism development by working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU).
“We live in the legacy square, and by working together, we can grow and, hopefully, make Kuching the best city in Malaysia.”
Among those present were State Secretary cum Plaza Merdeka Holdings chairman Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, DBKU Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai and India Street Pedestrian Mall chairman Datuk Wee Hong
Seng.