Facelift for rundown Kepong food court

THE dingy Metro Prima Hawker Centre in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, is getting a much-needed facelift, much to the delight of traders and customers alike.

They hope an updated facility will help bring in more dine-in customers as well as encourage more traders to open for business.

The facility is currently undergoing upgrading works by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Siti Zaida, a trader who has been operating at the food court since 2010, is glad that it is being improved.

“There has been a decline in the number of customers over the past few years, but we managed to stay in business because of our regular customers.

“This is one of the few places in the area where people can get affordable food.

“It is good that the dining area will be redone,” she said.

Customers eating at Metro Prima Hawker Centre.

She hopes that DBKL would also upgrade the stall areas to include more storage options and other amenities.

“It would also be good if DBKL could instal a back door for each of the stalls for better ventilation and safety,” Siti Zaida added.

Frequent customer Darwis Abdul Raof, 42, hopes to see more stalls open at the hawker centre once the upgrading works are completed.

“There are not many stalls here that are still operating.

“Some open only at night, so the place looks deserted during the day.

“The toilets here are also in bad condition and should be repaired,” said Darwis.

An operator at the hawker centre preparing food in cramped space.

StarMetro in a June 23 story headlined “Empty stalls deter customers, deprive other traders from operating at Kepong food court” highlighted the lack of stalls still open for business there.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping had said that traders at food courts should be reviewed periodically to ensure they were still operating and not depriving others who wanted to do business there.

He noticed that only a handful of the 26 stalls at the Metro Prima hawker centre were operating on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, a customer who wanted to be known only as Mohd, 63, said better seating should be installed.

“The current immovable tables and chairs are too small and uncomfortable.

“The food court management should also consider expanding the seating capacity to allow for larger groups,” he pointed out.

The food court floor being retiled.

DBKL, in a statement to StarMetro, said the upgrading works at the food court started this month and were expected to be completed by the end of September.

The works, at a cost of RM800,000, include repainting, replacing the floor, upgrading walkways, repairing the roof, and landscaping.

“DBKL has also investigated and taken action against units that are not operational.

“DBKL will put up advertisements calling for operators to fill the vacant units,” said the statement.

In June, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called on all states to formulate clear policies to upgrade and beautify food courts and stalls in the country.

He urged the local authorities to elevate and transform such places into more appealing and functional establishments.

In Kuala Lumpur, two food courts – in Masjid India and Bandar Tun Razak – were recently given facelifts.