Sibu Central Market traders eagerly await royal visit
Traders at Sibu Central Market are all excited for today’s scheduled visit of the King and Queen to the iconic market – the biggest in Malaysia.
Sabtuyah Omar, who operates a drinks stall on first floor of the market, expressed her excitement that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah would be having breakfast at the market.
“Preparations for local delicacies such as ‘pulut panggang’, ‘kompia’, ‘penyaram’ and ‘kuih bongkol’, which Their Majesties are expected to sample, are all ready.
“The food will be from Suraya Omar’s Stall.
“As for drinks, it will be Kopi-O and Teh-O for the royal couple. I was told Their Majesties will also sample the famous local fruit ‘dabai’,” she told The Borneo Post when met yesterday.
Echoing Sabtuyah’s excitement was Sibu Hawkers Welfare Association chairman Tan Hong Kiang, who said the royal couple’s visit is a historic occasion for the riverine town.
“I think he (Al-Sultan Abdullah) is the first Agong to visit Sibu Central Market,” Tan said, believing that Their Majesties’ visit would help promote the market and its 1,183 traders.
Meanwhile, Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Mohamad Abdullah Izkandar Roseley disclosed that an official from Istana Negara was at the market yesterday morning to ensure all the arrangements were according to protocol.
He said Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah are scheduled to arrive at the market at 8am today, prior to departing Sibu for Sri Aman and Kuching.