MIRI: Visitors from Peninsular Malaysia are dazzled by the uniqueness of the Chinese New Year bazaar here which reflects racial unity and harmony.
“Everybody from the Chinese and non-Chinese coming and trading here seems to enjoy the celebration although it is Chinese community festival. The racial confluence makes the city and Sarawak very unique and special. I can’t encounter this kind of atmosphere back in the peninsula,” said Zul Abd Wahab from Manjong, Perak while waiting for a trader to pack his order of ‘nasi goreng dabai’, a Sarawakian delicacy from a stall here yesterday.
To his surprise, he overheard a stall helper conversing in Chinese with a customer standing next to him who ordered ‘lo sufen’, a Chinese noodle.
Stall selling local arts and handicraft at the bazaar.
This year’s CNY bazaar from Jan 29 to Feb 4 is the biggest with 300 stalls spread along High Street to Miri Times Square, a new commercial centre here.
“I can see and buy a wide range of merchandise – festive food, beverages, ornaments and plants available at the bazaar. The bazaar is a must visit for tourists and visitors to Miri as I see this as tourists attraction not just a local affair during this time around Chinese New Year,” said Phang Chiew Hui who earlier bought ‘kek lapis Sarawak’ (layer cake) and souvenir to be brought back home from the bazaar.
Phang will present a taste of Sarawak to his family, relatives and friends who visit his family house in Pahang during Chinese New Year.
“I will serve them with kek lapis Sarawak of variety flavours which I bought from two Malay stalls at the bazaar. The cakes are unique and special to Sarawak. They not only take a long time to bake but to arrange or design the pattern and layers according to the colour or flavour. They are different from the cakes available back home in Pahang,” said Phang.
Intrigued by the unique design and pattern, he also bought a ‘pua kumbu’ to be used as table cloth from a stall selling local arts and handicraft in the bazaar.
He was impressed by the equal opportunity for the Chinese and non-Chinese to do business at the bazaar. “It is a reflection of unity, good understanding and harmony among the people here and Sarawak in general as the bazaar attracts and caters to everyone not only the Chinese,” he added.