Mastapha (second left) presents a memento to Abang Johari. From left are Lee, Ting, Asfia, Jaul, Gerawat, and Yii.
MIRI: The Sarawak government will set up more trading centres like Miri Wireless Walk to enable young people to venture into small businesses and generate some income for themselves.
When launching Miri Wireless Walk on Wednesday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the project sought to provide a venue for locals to trade while also functioning as a tourist attraction.
“First of all, I want to congratulate those selected to trade at Wireless Walk. As the area is not big, it cannot cater for more traders. But based on feedback, there is much interest from our youth to go into small businesses.
“If this is the case, surely the government has to create more places with this similar concept for our young entrepreneurs,” he said.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government is always ready to help create opportunities for small-time traders in the heart of Miri City.
“There are 57 stalls here with good facilities. We have seen different concepts such as food trucks, but this container concept is different. This will definitely be good for our small businesses, especially for F&B, handicrafts, and street buskers. That is why when the Sarawak Miri Bumiputera Traders Association applied to make this Wireless Walk a business site for Bumiputera small businesses here, I didn’t hesitate to approve it,” he said.
He called the container concept trading area something new, interesting, and fresh for Miri that is also very tidy and in line with Miri’s vision to be a vibrant city.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari suggested the road in front of Wireless Walk be closed to vehicles during weekends so that the public can spend their leisure time and conduct recreational activities at the site.
“Maybe we need to install CCTV in this area so that we can monitor the public’s safety. The Mayor and the Resident can look into this matter. For the budget, we can discuss it and set aside an allocation for that,” he said.
Abang Johari added the Wireless Walk area is also part of the Smart City project, which is being planned for development in Miri.
“We want to get all the facilities up in Miri so that the city can become more tourist-friendly.One thing I must say, the service sector must also come up. You have good hospitals here, places that are safe and clean,” he said adding that the area surrounding Wireless Walk seemed neat as well as clean and the people should keep it that way.
Named after Kampung Wireless, which is located on the banks of Miri River, Abang Johari hoped that Miri’s latest attraction could grow and become as popular as Bintang Walk in Kuala Lumpur.
Among those present were Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin; DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar; Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala; Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting; State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion; Miri Resident Mastapha Julaihi; and Miri Mayor Adam Yii.