Dr Sim (fourth left) leads others in opening Sibu Jaya Night Market.
SIBU: Sibu Jaya Night Market which opened last Friday night is the first one under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing which targets 17 such markets to be set up in the state.
Its minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian revealed this at the launch of the Night Market in Sibu last Friday night.
Among those in attendance were chairman of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), Datuk Tiong Thai King; chairman of Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC), Sempurai Petrus Ngelai; and deputy chairman of SRDC, Cr Robert Lau Hui Yew.
Dr Sim congratulated SRDC for setting a high bar for other night markets in Sarawak to follow.
“Night markets are an important component of towns, functioning as tourist attractions due to their uniqueness and variety of foods and merchandise, besides improving the socio-economy of the people.”
Locals, especially traders of night markets, play a role in ensuring the cleanliness and cheerfulness of the night market.
“The colourful lights and synchronised canopies can be iconic and become a new attraction in Sibu Jaya township and Sibu town,” Dr Sim said.
He therefore called on the traders to be creative in drawing visitors to the night market.
“Sibu Jaya Night Market can become a tourist attraction as it’s strategically located, and only one kilometre from Sibu Airport and therefore convenient for people to drop by,” he added.
The market comprising 104 stalls operates from 4pm to 11pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.