A new lease of life for Siniawan
KUCHING: The Siniawan night market is a rather young market compared to the ones in Taiping or Penang Chowrasta market.
Nevertheless, since it started operations on Oct 15, 2010, the night market has given a boon to a small town neglected by progress.
With over 90 stalls offering street food and other local delicacies, the heritage site has been attracting locals and tourists as well as the attention of the Sarawak state government.
The folks in Siniawan used to rely on vendors who brought various goods and daily necessities, including food supply using boats.
Although the Chinese, particularly the Hakka, own most of the shophouses, the place has become a melting pot of race and culture. But the hustle and bustle slowed down in the late ’80s, when roads and bridges connecting the town and the surrounding villages were constructed.
Siniawan Village Security and Development Committee secretary Bong Boon Kah said the people no longer depended on the boat vendors as they travelled by road.
The situation in Siniawan worsened as it was hit by floods, while lack of employment opportunities forced the younger generation to migrate to Kuching to look for greener pastures.
The two rows of 48 wooden double-storey shophouses were poorly maintained and started falling apart.
“Siniawan was becoming a ghost town. Fortunately, a few locals and shopowners saw the beauty and historical value of their hometown and were eager to do something to revive the town.
“That’s when the idea of a night market came about,” he added.
Bong said some of the younger generation of shophouse owners returned and began putting more efforts to conserve the external structures and renovate the interior of the wooden shophouses.
The state government gave funds to improve the facilities and support the events there.
The annual Cowboy Night event was listed in the state tourism calendar to promote Siniawan old town and the night market that is held on Friday to Sunday, from 5pm to 11pm.
Meanwhile, Serumbu assemblyman Miro Simuh had requested the state Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Ministry to gazette the old town as a heritage site.
This will make it eligible for an annual allocation to be used by the local community to run various programmes to attract visitors throughout the year.
Last month, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg announced a project to build a waterfront in Siniawan, to promote it as a heritage town and boost the tourism industry in the area.