SIBU: The Dayak community here will soon have their own dedicated dining place known as the Sibu Dayak Food Court (SDFC).
The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) had approved a budget of RM600,000 to convert the Tasik Permai Food Court into the SDFC, according to councillor Augustine Merikan, the deputy chairman of the SMC Standing Committee for Markets and Petty Traders.
“While other food courts in the area cater to various ethnicities, such as Taman Selera Harmoni for Muslim hawkers and Medan Selera Muhibah with a majority of Chinese traders, the SDFC will be exclusively for the Dayak community.
“We should be proud that finally our requests have been agreed upon, which has seen us have our place,” he said at the closing of the Sibu Dayak Gawai Bazaar (SGDB) at Taman Tasik Permai last Saturday (May 20).
Augustine, who also served as the chairman of the SGDB organising committee, believed that the establishment of the new food court would enhance the income of Dayak hawkers and contribute to the local economy.
“I hope the local Dayak community will give their support so that we can expedite the implementation of the project.”
The SGDB, a 10-day event held from May 11 to 20, concluded with the closing ceremony performed by Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Sibu chairman Mikem Longiok.
Organised by the Sarawak Iban Artists Association (Parisa) in collaboration with SMC, the SGDB featured 29 stalls offering a variety of food, drinks, and handicraft products.
