Two popular food courts - Ming Tien and Asia Cafe - are closing shop

IT'S neither trick nor treat this Halloween Day for patrons of the popular Ming Tien food court in Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya.

Come Oct 31, the 17-year-old open-air food court will cease operations.

The neighbouring Taman Megah badminton hall and souvenir shop will also be closed to make way for a mixed development project.

StarMetro spoke to customers and traders affected by the closure as well as regular badminton players at the nearby hall.

Residents, too, had their say on the planned development there.

 

Ming Tien food court will be closing on Oct 31, after operating for 17 years. —Photos: IBRAHIM MOHTAR, ROHAIZAT MD DARUS and SHAARI CHEMAT

 

Hawkers

Jenny Tan and her husband Vincent Lim have been running Vince Penang Grill Fish at Ming Tien for 17 years – the same duration the food court has been open.

“We have been in business for 27 years, having previously operated at a coffeeshop in SS2,” said Tan.

“We get a lot of Chinese, Indian and Malay customers.

“Malay customers enjoy our grilled fish and seafood dishes as they know we do not use non-halal ingredients.

“We have been verbally told that the relocation will be towards the year-end and the unconfirmed location is near Cheras Leisure Mall.

“Some of my fellow hawkers plan to move with Ming Tien to its new location, some will relocate to other places nearer to their homes, while the rest plan to retire,” she said.

Moy Qin, who sells fish head and seafood curry, is undecided on where to move.

Many of the hawkers at Ming Tien food court have been running their businesses there since it opened 17 years ago.

“I am sad about the closure, but there is no choice,” said the 50-year-old who has been in business for over 10 years.

A Ming Tien food court supervisor, who wanted to be known as Chin, said about 80% of the existing hawkers are expected to move to the new place.

“I am unclear about the details, such as the last day of operations and new location, as all these depend on my boss,” he said.

Chin said Ming Tien is open round the clock, with over 60 stalls catering to different dining hours – breakfast and lunch, or dinner and supper.

 

Customers

Adeline Ooi and husband Tony Cheah went to the food court last weekend on learning of its impending closure online.

“We used to visit regularly with relatives and friends.

“We enjoy the ambience and the varieties of food, which cannot be found anywhere else in Petaling Jaya,” said Ooi, who was busy taking photos to capture memories of the place.

“We usually order several dishes to share and dine as a group,” said Cheah, who especially enjoyed the Vietnamese beef noodles and wan tan mee.

The couple, who live in Damansara Perdana, said they are unlikely to go to Cheras should Ming Tien relocate there.

Cheah (right) and Ooi visited Ming Tien last weekend, upon finding out about the food court’s closure online.

Chew Keng Wee and Carol Ho are unhappy about Ming Tien’s impending closure, as they like the convenience and variety the food court offered.

“It is a nice place to have meals at night. Ming Tien is always crowded, whether on weekends or weekdays,” said the couple, who visit the food court once a month.

Chew particularly enjoys the seafood curry, which he said was reasonably priced and came in generous portions.

“I also like to order loh bak, Thai food or grilled fish.

“We have brought relatives from Kuching to dine at Ming Tien and they enjoyed it.

“It will be difficult to find a similar food court that offers such good variety under one roof,” said Chew.

“Ming Tien was a gathering spot for my two groups of friends – badminton players and church youth mates.

“When we decide to yum cha, we usually end up going to Ming Tien,” said Chua Soo Han, who worships at a church nearby.

“The food court’s location is also quite central.

“My friends and I live in different places, so we like to gather at Ming Tien.

“It is famous and people recognise it as a landmark.”

The Taman Megah badminton hall which has 16 badminton courts will also be closed to make way for the mixed development project.

 

Badminton players

Cousins Prem Kumar and SG Mohan, both engineers, have been playing badminton at the Taman Megah badminton hall for about 10 years.

Prem, 39, said two generations of family members would meet for two hours, every Saturday, to play badminton.

“Our routine is to play badminton at the hall, then have dinner at the food court.

“We like playing here because there are many courts and ample parking space,” said Mohan, 43,

The cousins said they planned to continue their weekly game at a different court in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, but would miss the convenience and camaraderie offered at the Taman Megah badminton hall.