KUCHING: Regular clients and visitors to Uptown Night Market here have voiced their delight at the market’s reopening, noting that they can now eat the food that they have been craving.
Maselia Saee, a 33-year-old production operator, said she was looking forward to the reopening as she has been craving for Yong Tau Foo (stuffed bean curd) for quite some time now.
“I would only come here for the Yong Tau Foo. It is one of my favourite dishes, and I always purchase them in large quantities to share with my family at home,” she said.
When asked about the enhanced standard operating procedures (SOPs) at Uptown, she said that everyone must adhere to the SOPs rigorously as it has become the norm.
Meanwhile, Dennis Tygang, a 24-year-old front office assistant, believed that if more people visited Uptown and shopped there, the traders’ earnings would increase.
“I support small-time vendors here by purchasing from them as they are among those who have been seriously impacted during the pandemic,” he said.
According to Dennis, Uptown differs from other places because it offers a wide range of food, as well as clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and many more.
“I can see that the majority of people here adhere to the SOPs,” he said, adding that some even take their own initiative to use double masks and face shields when visiting the area.
Another visitor, Siti Zaira Julaihi, a 26-year-old clerk also expressed her joy at Uptown’s reopening, saying she can now enjoy the various food sold there.
“It has been a long time since I had eaten wanton, so I really craved for it. Not only is it delicious, but everyone should eat at Uptown since the prices are very affordable,” she remarked.
She said the opening of Uptown was a smart move to help small-time traders generate income during the pandemic. However, she believed that in order to curb the spread of Covid-19, visitors must follow the rules consistently.
“I am quite pleased with the SOPs that have been implemented here. I hope that all visitors adhere to the regulation, such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing, in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” she said.
