A five-foot way (kaki lima) in the small town of Rembau in Negri Sembilan. Photo: Malek Hue
The five-foot way, or “kaki lima” in Bahasa Malaysia, is ubiquitous in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, providing residents much-needed shelter from the tropical elements, be it the scorching heat of the sun or the heavy deluge of a sudden rainstorm.
A remnant of the British colonial era, these covered arched walkways found in front of heritage shophouses occupy a strange grey area between a public space and a commercial space.
