Kuching: The “Jom Membeli-belah Bersama Ah Jen” programme was launched for the first time after repeated visits to the 7th Mile Market revealed a worrying trend of declining business, with many hawkers struggling to make ends meet amid reduced foot traffic.
Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen said the situation prompted him and his team to introduce the initiative to revitalise the market, bring back crowds, and encourage the public to return to traditional marketplaces.
“In discussions with my team, we decided to launch this special ‘Jom Membeli-belah Bersama Ah Jen’ initiative,” he said.
He acknowledged that although the RM30 cash vouchers distributed to about 300 residents were modest in value, the programme served a dual purpose: easing cost-of-living pressures while stimulating market spending to support hawkers’ incomes.
Chong also noted the broader structural challenge facing traditional markets, saying many consumers today prefer supermarkets and shopping malls, leading to a gradual decline in wet market businesses.
Through the initiative, he said he hoped to redirect spending back into local markets to revive economic activity and increase foot traffic.
At the same time, he called on elected representatives from the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to emulate similar programmes, particularly since the 7th Mile Market falls under areas they represent.
He argued that implementing such initiatives should not be difficult, given the size of public allocations available.
Chong highlighted that MPs receive RM4 million annually, while GPS state assemblymen receive RM7 million each year.
He added that in Stampin alone, three GPS assemblymen collectively manage RM21 million in allocations, with one also holding the position of Deputy Premier and Cabinet Minister.
“If we can provide RM30 vouchers to help residents and stimulate the market economy, then GPS assemblymen with much larger allocations should be even more capable of providing RM50 or RM100 assistance through similar programmes,” he said.
Following the launch, Chong and his team toured the market to assess its impact, speaking with both residents and traders.
“Many hawkers selling fresh produce and meat said they had not seen such high customer turnout in years and expressed hope that similar initiatives would continue.
“The upstairs hawker centre was also reported to be unusually packed, with food vendors serving laksa, noodles, fried kuey teow, and vegetarian dishes, describing the day as one of their best trading performances in recent memory. Some noted that shoppers typically moved upstairs for meals after purchasing groceries downstairs, further boosting sales,” he said.
Chong said he was encouraged by the strong response, noting that the market was filled with voucher-carrying shoppers and that the atmosphere was lively, with interaction between traders and customers.
He thanked residents and traders for their support. He said discussions would be held on expanding similar initiatives in the future to sustain market activity and ease financial pressures on the public.
Separately, he said his service center continues to work with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to organise at least two “Jualan Rahmah MADANI Bergerak” programmes each month, including recent stops at Langkau Arau Rumah Asap and Lorong 2 of the Stampin Resettlement Scheme.
