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Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Malaysia moves to clean up its street food scene with shiny new kiosks topped with solar panels
While the project has generally been given the thumbs up by the public, criticisms include low traffic and poor earnings at some locations. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK Malaysia moves to clean up its street food scene with shiny new kiosks topped with solar panels KUALA LUMPUR - Mr Syed Nurul Fakhri was selling nasi kandar under a flimsy canopy in Petaling Jaya city for five years, setting up his stall in the mornings and packing things up in the evenings to avoid his utensils from being stolen overnight. That routine changed a month ago when he received the keys to a new kiosk, solar-powered with LED lights and a lockable door, in the same area. 'I am very thankful for the kiosk,' the 45-year old told The Straits Times. 'I can lock up my things. They won't go missing.' The clean surroundings where similar kiosks have also been set up by the Malaysian government has helped sales of his nasi kandar, or rice served with curries and other dishes. The monthly rent of RM120 (S$36) is 'reasonable', he said, adding that it's early days yet. His takings were as much as RM500 a day previously. He is among thousands of Malaysian street hawkers who are giving these shiny new food kiosks a try, with the government sinking RM150 million into MyKiosk. The project was launched in 2023 to give small traders the opportunity to run their businesses legally, in a standardised, safe and hygienic environment, as well as relocating them to more strategic locations. After selling nasi kandar under a canopy for five years, Mr Syed Nurul Fakhri now runs his business at a brand-new MyKiosk in the same area. ST PHOTO: HAZLIN HASSAN The project's main promoter is the hard-charging Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who said the government is giving a leg up to small traders, many of whom operate in unregulated conditions. Street hawkers all over the country often set up makeshift stalls by the roadside, selling drinks, banana fritters and fried noodles, among other things. 'With MyKiosk, we are 'legalising' their businesses by offering free rental for the first six months and (thereafter) a maximum rental rate of RM10 per day,' Mr Nga said earlier in May . Vendor Mohd Azizan, who rents a kiosk in the same location in Selangor state as Mr Syed Nurul, said: 'Customers say the place looks clean and attractive. This is better and more comfortable for me too.' Since moving into his kiosk on May 14, daily sales for his rojak buah (Asian fruit salad) have jumped from RM100 to between RM180 and RM200. Still, not everyone has had such a positive start. Ms Jamilah (not her real name), used to sell nasi lemak near bustling Jalan Tun Razak in capital Kuala Lumpur for two years, setting up her stall under a shady tree. There was no rent to pay, so she enjoyed good earnings. But like other street vendors in Malaysia, operating without a licence could get her into trouble when the municipal authorities conducted their regular checks. 'I used to sell nasi lemak by the roadside. Sales were better, but I got chased away by the authorities. I applied for this (kiosk) because it's legal,' she said. Ms Jamilah moved to her RM300-a-month kiosk in the Klang Valley area in September 2024, more than 5km away from her former spot. Business is still 'quite slow', she says, with daily sales of around RM300 to RM400 a day compared to about RM500 prior to the move. While the MyKiosk project has generally been given the thumbs up by the public for cleaning up the street food scene, criticisms include low traffic and poor earnings at some locations, as well as shortcomings about water and electricity supply. Mr Nga, the Cabinet minister, had praised the solar panels atop each kiosk, saying these eliminated electricity bills, but some vendors have posted on social media and spoken to reporters about the solar power generated lasting for only about four hours in the evenings. Others pointed to the lack of water supply or even a sink for washing, and that some kiosks were in low-traffic areas, which resulted in poor sales. 'The location is not so good. I advertised on Facebook, but some people (still) couldn't find my kiosk,' said Ms Jamilah. She said the solar power generated at her kiosk usually lasts for four to five hours from 6pm, and there is no piped-in water or available supply nearby. 'I have to bring my own mineral water supply and a power bank for additional lights,' she added. The ceiling has also been leaking and there was what looked like mould growth in her kiosk, she said. 'I was told I had to fix it myself. I painted over the 'mould', but it came back. It isn't safe for the food,' she added. Another vendor in that same location closed shop after just a month due to poor sales, she noted. In Selangor's Pandan Jaya township, of the 10 kiosks available for rent, only one was rented out and that, too, was shut when ST visited on an afternoon on May 27. In Selangor's Pandan Jaya township, of the 10 kiosks available for rent, only one was rented out and that, too, was shut when ST visited on an afternoon on May 27. ST PHOTO: HAZLIN HASSAN Mr Mike Chong Yew Chuan of the Malaysian Chinese Association, a member of the multi-coalition government, told ST there were concerns over transparency, pricing discrepancies, procurement, and overall governance of the MyKiosk programme. He said that Mr Nga has said kiosks in the Perak cities of Taiping and Ipoh were built at RM13,000 each. But in Melaka state, the same kiosk model cost up to RM22,000. 'Even after accounting for transport and local logistics, such a price gap is indefensible,' he said. On May 22, the housing ministry submitted documents related to the MyKiosk initiative to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, insisting that no funds were misused. Mr Nga said that a RM25,000 kiosk was be the ceiling price per unit for the project, and that some kiosks had been constructed for as little as RM13,000 through open bidding by local councils. He said MyKiosk was managed by local municipal councils, with 795 contractors participating in the project, thereby ruling out allegations of cronyism. He said price differences also stemmed from major upgrades in the improved version of the kiosks, rolled out under MyKiosk 2.0. These include larger solar energy capacity, improved electrical systems such as LED lighting, hydraulic windows and better-designed modules. 'These are Malaysia's first green energy kiosks,' Mr Nga said, noting that the new solar panels could generate electricity for up to 12 hours compared to four in the previous version. According to his ministry, the MyKiosk 1.0 project achieved a 87.74 percent uptake, while MyKiosk 2.0 that was launched in December 2024 has a 65.44 per cent take-up rate. A row of MyKiosks in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, yet to be occupied. ST PHOTO: HAZLIN HASSAN Responding to criticisms that the kiosks were located in poor low-traffic areas in Johor, state housing and local government exco member Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said it would review the MyKiosk locations. 'I have told the 16 local councils statewide to brainstorm and relocate those kiosks to more strategic places. We should help to promote the locations and offer training courses to the traders in need so they can improve their food products,' he was quoted as saying on May 23 by The Star daily. In a separate venture to clean up street hawking, the government has also been boosting the food-truck scene by setting aside car parks and open areas for open-air dining in the evening, all over Malaysia. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a boom in the food truck industry as many jobless Malaysians scrambled to find ways to stay afloat. Hazlin Hassan is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Last call at the PTC track to mark the end of a 161-year legacy
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Turf Club (PTC), Malaysia's oldest horse racing institution, has hosted its final race, marking the end of a 161-year legacy. A large crowd of spectators and punters turned up yesterday at the grandstand located in the 81.75ha site in Batu Gantong. Among them was Penangite Ooi Chee Chong, 43, who stepped into the PTC grounds for the first time on what would be its last official race day. 'I've heard stories from my friends and older colleagues about the races here. They used to come here in the 1960s and '70s, dressed in their Sunday best. It wasn't just about the betting for them; it was a big social outing and people came to see and be seen. 'I never had much interest in horse racing until recently. To be honest, I always thought of the turf club as something from the past, something for older people. 'But when I heard it was closing, I felt a strange sense of urgency as I didn't want to let it disappear without seeing it for myself,' he said. Ooi, who works as a factory purchaser, described the atmosphere as unexpectedly moving. 'Even though it's my first time here, you can feel the emotion in the air. You look around and see old timers saying their goodbyes silently and taking selfies at the grandstand. It hits you because this place means a lot to a lot of people. 'It's a bittersweet moment. There's excitement, but also a sense of loss. It's like closing a chapter of our local heritage. 'Once this land is redeveloped, the entire experience will vanish – the turf, the track, the energy, the stories,' he said. A punter, who wanted to be known only as Cheah, 67, said even if horse racing is revived elsewhere in Penang, it would not be the same. 'This place, with its colonial-era clubhouse and old trees, has a certain soul. You can't recreate that in a new venue. 'I'm glad I came here as it feels like I've touched a part of Penang's past, just before it disappears forever,' he added. Seven races were staged as part of the farewell, including the RM250,000 PTC Farewell Trophy (1,300m race), the RM150,000 PTC Memorial Trophy (1,100m race), and the RM100,000 Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy for the 1,400m race. As the sun sets on PTC, the echoes of cheering crowds and thundering hooves will give way to new developments. PTC president Datuk Ong Eng Khuan said, 'It is with a heavy heart that we had to resort to this measure of ceasing racing operations as we have been incurring losses for many years. 'The club has been struggling with fallen attendance, a drastic drop in racing revenue, lack of participation and interest in horse ownership over the years. 'Horse racing, unfortunately, is no longer attracting the big crowds like it did in the 1950s,' he said in a statement. Ong added that although PTC will cease its racing operations, the entity of Penang Turf Club will remain until its full closure. In June last year, PTC members voted overwhelmingly to dissolve the club and sell its prime land. On April 20 this year, the PTC voted unanimously to close following a Special General Meeting. It confirmed the resolutions passed at the First Special General Meeting on June 10, 2024, to dissolve. The land, adjacent to the upscale Taman Jesselton, is estimated to be worth between RM2bil and RM3bil upon conversion to commercial status. However, the transition from recreational to mixed development use is projected to cost about RM1bil. An initial open tender for the entire property concluded without any qualified bids. The club plans to subdivide the land into smaller parcels to attract a broader range of potential buyers. Civil society groups have raised concerns about the proposed rezoning of the PTC land from a green recreational space to a commercial and mixed development area. They said it could lead to irreversible negative impacts on Penang's environment and infrastructure. Established in 1864, the PTC began its journey on a modest parcel of land, granted free, along Macalister Road (now St George's Girls' School), for the purpose of horse racing. It relocated to its present site in 1939. Die-hard racing fans can look to the Perak Turf Club, established in 1886, and the Selangor Turf Club, founded a decade later in 1896, both of which continue to host regular meets for now.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Putra Heights inferno: SPNB to rebuild, repair 17 houses from next week
The site of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya. – Bernama KEPALA BATAS: Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) will rebuild and repair 17 houses affected by the April 1 gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, starting next week. SPNB chief executive officer Mohd Jamil Idris said this is an initial project involving 11 homes that were completely destroyed and six houses for renovation under the government allocation previously approved, namely a maximum of RM300,000 for rebuilding and RM150,000 for repairs. "We have entered the area, and our contractors issued appointment letters to the affected residents this week. So, starting next week, they (the contractors) will start work at the site (of the affected houses). If we look at the data we have, so far, there are 17 houses… and this data may change,' he said. He told reporters this when met at the Urban Community Sustainability Programme (PKKB) and SPNB Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme in Taman Desa Kuala Muda here on Saturday (May 31), which was officiated by SPNB chairman Datuk Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila. The gas pipeline fire on April 1 caused flames to rise more than 30 metres high, with temperatures reaching over 1,000 degrees Celsius, causing 81 homes to be completely destroyed, with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, 81 homes partially damaged, 57 homes affected but not burned, and 218 homes left unaffected. Meanwhile, Azmi said SPNB would build a total of 5,450 houses under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) project nationwide this year, with an allocation of RM504 million, to help B40 and low-income groups own homes. He said they have also implemented about half of the target as of May and aim to complete it all by the end of this year. "We build these houses quite fast, in three months, mostly using conventional methods as well as IBS (Industrialised Building System), but there may be issues in terms of slight delays (for certain applications) because (there are) necessary processes,' he said. Azmi said the eligibility criteria for owning an RMR home include a household income not exceeding RM5,000, not currently owning a house and having their own land. "The construction cost for each house is RM75,000, namely RM20,000 in the form of a government subsidy and the remaining RM55,000 as an interest-free loan. The monthly repayment is RM300 for about 16 years,' he said, adding that a total of 73,279 RMR units have been built nationwide since 2002. As for Saturday's programme, the Housing and Local Government Ministry contributed RM38,950 while SPNB chipped in with RM10,000. In addition, SPNB and Progressive Impact Technology Sdn Bhd also contributed a 4kWp solar panel system worth RM18,540 to educate the community about electricity savings, environmental friendliness, renewable energy, green technology adoption and promoting a healthier environment.- Bernama
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Winning horse kicks, injures handler after last race at Penang Turf Club
GEORGE TOWN: The final race at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) in Batu Gantung here witnessed an incident which saw a horse handler slightly injured. The incident happened after Race 4 — the Special Class 4 - 1,400m. As the winning horse — Contarelli — was being paraded, many people tried to touch the horse. Apparently unsettled by this, the horse kicked out, hitting its handler and sending him to the ground. Medical workers immediately rushed to his aid before he was subsequently wheeled off the field. The horse was then taken off the field. Established in 1864, the PTC officially concluded its operations following a unanimous vote to dissolve what was long considered one of the state's most cherished institutions. To commemorate today's final race day, seven special races were held. Among the highlights were the RM250,000 PTC Farewell Trophy (1,300m), the RM150,000 PTC Memorial Trophy (1,100m), and the RM100,000 Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy (1,400m).
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
A historic goodbye: PTC bids farewell after more than 160 years
GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of spectators flocked to the Penang Turf Club (PTC) in Batu Gantung here today for an emotionally charged final race — marking the end of an era for Malaysian equestrian sport as the country's oldest racing venue closes. While the size of the crowd was typical of a race day at the storied track, the atmosphere was anything but ordinary. At the entrance, patrons were greeted by a large banner which read, "Thank you, loyal patrons" — a poignant farewell to generations of supporters. Many came dressed to the nines, adding a touch of glamour to their final visit to the more than 160-year-old turf club. Smartphones were held aloft throughout the day as visitors captured photos and videos, eager to preserve their last memories of a venue steeped in history. Established in 1864, the Penang Turf Club officially concluded its operations following a unanimous vote to dissolve what was long considered one of the state's most cherished institutions. To commemorate the occasion, seven special races were held. Among the highlights were the RM250,000 PTC Farewell Trophy (1,300m), the RM150,000 PTC Memorial Trophy (1,100m), and the RM100,000 Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy (1,400m). Each race was met with loud cheers and applause, as loyal fans rooted for their favourites one final time. With the closure of the PTC, only two turf clubs remain in Malaysia: the Perak Turf Club, established in 1886, and the Selangor Turf Club, founded in 1896. Today, the PTC bid farewell not just to its patrons, but to a proud legacy that has galloped through generations.
