Hawking the country away

Jenin: "Mit, let's go pasar malam."

Mitty: "Where?"

Jenin: "Shanghai."

a night market in shanghai
Malaysia's Pavillion at the World Expo in Shanghai has been described as a pasar malam effort by some. Apart from the lack of focus in the showcase, Malaysia's pavillion is used to sell massage machines, tongkat ali coffee, cocoa drinks and etc. Any surprise there?

According to the official Shanghai website, Malaysia's Pavillion houses a mini golf putting area, the usual KLCC, some superficial exhibition about Malaysia's harmonious and diverse community as well as some 'interesting places' of visit in Malaysia.

Haven't we heard of all this before, especially the multiculural part? Rather than employing half-baked, archaic strategy which lacks creativity, Malaysia should explore its existing, but un-tapped tourism product - the pasar malam!

err, pasar malam?
the french has the st ouen flea market. the thais have the chatuchak weekend market.

jenin: "... but malaysia has petaling street!"

ok, ok.. Malaysia has its own 'flea' market - petaling street. It has been a tourist attraction for cheap imitation goods and other contraband items.

but, what Malaysia should focus on is its pasar malam! Petaling Street doesn't capture the true spirit of the pasar malam. It lacks good food, fresh produce, and more importantly... Malaysian culture!

business' good in pasar malam
think about this:
everybody loves good food. everybody loves to shop. malaysia has warm weather throughout the year. malaysians loves to chill, or 'lepak' as we call it . tourists want to explore local culture and food. so.. why not the pasar malam?

consider this:
- large-scaled, organised, permanent and easily accessible pasar malam spot in an open space in kl. hygenic. doesnt distrupts traffic. operates every night.
- modern-concept but stay true to the pasar malam spirit - don't need buildings.
- have chairs and tables for folks to enjoy the food. something like penang's gurney drive.
- stalls are not overtly-cramped. ample space for visitors to walk comfortably.
- bulb-lights/lanterns like malacca's jonker walk to romanticised the atmosphere.

hawking the country away
why would the pasar malam make a great tourism product?
...because it achieves three things:
1. allows tourist to experience malaysian culture and food.
2. an avenue for locals to be entrepreneurial + earn a decent living.
3. a hangout and shopping place for the locals and tourist alike.

a great tourism product usually has the tourists in mind, but the locals at heart.

pasar malam sells.

Profile

Name: Jenin, Mat
-Lazy, but a thinker with vivid imagination.
-Ambitious, but held back by how things are.
-A laughing stock.



Name: Mitty, Walter
-Dreamer, but slightly delusional.
-Brave, but a little too radical at times.
-A confused man moose.