Scent of community at Section 17 night market

A fruit vendor arranging oranges and kiwis while attending to a customer.

NIGHT markets are a weekly fixture in many neighbourhoods, offering a mix of food, fresh produce and household goods.

Shoppers browsing a wide selection of greens at a vegetable stall in Section 17 night market. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

By early evening on Tuesdays the night market in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, is in full swing, stretching over 300m along one end of Jalan 17/1a.

A trader preparing traditional steamed ‘putu bambu’ containing rice flour and palm sugar.

Food and drinks are the main attraction, as they are at night markets elsewhere.

A trader preparing ‘apam balik’ filled with peanuts and corn.

Here, the aromas of grilled chicken wings, fried noodles and sweet apam balik stuffed with chopped peanuts and corn fill the air.

A vendor serving packs of grilled chicken rice, ready for takeaway.

Drinks in large containers, including rose syrup, lychee, honeydew and milk tea are lined up in colourful rows.

Crowds moving through the Section 17 night market, checking out the food and wares on sale.

Fresh produce, meats and seafood along with an array of vegetables and fruits, can be seen in abundance across tables at several stalls.

Some vendors offer more traditional items, including household wares and clothes as well as toys and mobile device accessories.

A locksmith offering key duplication services at the pasar malam.

Traders here are a mix of young and old, each with their own unique way of attracting the attention of passers-by.

Beyond a hub for food and shopping, the night market is a vital community gathering spot.

A vendor transferring household goods, tools and DIY items from a van for display on makeshift tabletops.

It’s where residents and students from nearby Universiti Malaya connect, socialise and buy their meals.