Absent night market vendors urged to give way to others

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Christina Liew, has urged vendors who decide not to operate at the Api-Api Night Food Market at Gaya Street to give up their space for those who are on the waiting list.

Christina, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said, only about 30 to 40 stalls operated on the second night.

“There are about 10 to 15 stalls that did not open,” she noted.

After discussing with Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, she said, vendors who decide not to operate at the night market should give up their space for the 50 vendors that are on the waiting list.

“We will allow people on the waiting list to take up the space instead of leaving the space empty at the night market,” she told the media after inspecting the new brick walkways at Asia City here yesterday.

The Api-Api Night Food Market at Gaya Street operates every Friday and Saturday, starting from 6 pm to 2 am.

On some shop operators' complaints that their business was affected by the night market, Christina said, she understood the reactions of the businesses.

She said customers who could previously park in front of the shops would have to walk further as the streets were closed, which in turn affected businesses at the shops.

“My advice to them is to park at the back of the shops or a little further away,” said Christina.

She also stressed on the need to improve the lightings and security at the night market.

Christina said, the night market provided tourists with a place to go at night upon returning from the islands or Mount Kinabalu.