Dr Annuar (sixth left), (from third left) councillor Jimmy De Rozario, Wong, Abdul Taib, councillor Rabek Ali Hamid and others posing for a photo during the recent Taman Selera Harmoni’s Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri function.
SIBU: Traders at the recently upgraded Taman Selera Harmoni along Awang Ramli Amit Road here are beaming with smiles as their income has doubled since the facelift.
According to Taman Selera Harmoni traders’ committee chairman Abdul Taib Rosli, during peak periods, an estimated 500 to 1,000 people patronise the food court, which operates from 6pm till late in the evening daily.
He recalled that before the upgrading, the estimated crowd numbers hovered between 300 and 500 people during peak hours.
“Since the completion of the upgrading to Taman Selera Harmoni last November, there has been an increase in the number of people visiting the food court.
“Due to this, traders now enjoy better business where their income has doubled compared to before the food court was given a facelift,” Abdul Taib told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He said among the pull factors were the ample parking bays in front of the food court and well-arranged chairs and tables.
Adding on, he said the food court is very dear to the heart of Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee, who contributed several projectors as a new attraction which will be installed soon.
He further noted that Dr Annuar has plans to erect fencing behind the food court to enhance the security of the area to safeguard the vehicles of customers and traders.
Abdul Taib said there are currently 50 traders there and that all stalls had been taken up.
Despite this, many more were still keen to apply for a licence to trade there, he noted.
“With the setting-up of Taman Selera Harmoni traders’ committee, it allows for closer cooperation with Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) which indirectly strengthens the management and administration of the food court,” he stated.
Meanwhile, SMC market and petty traders standing committee chairwoman Councillor Wong Hie Ping said the food court was given a facelift last year to provide better facilities and convenience to visitors and food lovers.
Wong said after the upgrading, the business was much better and there were also bigger workplaces for traders.
Seeing business at the premises picking up, many people had applied for stalls, she said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had a walkabout in Taman Selera Harmoni back in 2015.