From left: Aziz, Teh and Chow looking at the first scale model of Komtar following the launch of the Komtar Carnival 2025.
FOR four decades, locals have turned to optician K. Nickalas to help them find the perfect pair of spectacles.
Now 73, he still serves regulars with meticulous attention at his optical shop on the ground floor of Komtar in George Town.
Nickalas was among the pioneer tenants and has maintained his shop as it was with rows of spectacle frames, many looking retro.
“When I first opened in 1981, people came from all over Penang.
“Back then, Komtar was the place to go for everything.”
Stalls selling everything from flowers to handicraft attracted visitors to the three-day carnival.
He offered basic services like prescription spectacles, lens fitting, frame adjustment and simple repairs.
“I did everything from eye tests to grinding lenses and even reshaping frames.
“Many customers didn’t have money to buy new spectacles so I repaired a lot of old ones.”
Komtar’s foot traffic may have lessened since its ’80s heyday, but Nickalas had never thought of closing.
“Business has halved but I’m glad we still get a steady stream of customers.
“They say only I can get their lenses right,” he chuckled.
Nickalas was among the 45 long-time tenants honoured during the three-day Komtar Carnival 2025.
Sariah and her crepes with Musang King durian filling.
Held in conjunction with the tower’s 40th anniversary, it featured an exhibition of photos from Komtar’s past and present as well as promotions by tenants.
At the launch, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow fondly recalled his link to Komtar.
“When I was young, I used to sell the Rocket newspaper in front of the Popular Bookstore.
“As Chief Minister, my office is also in Komtar.
“To me, Komtar is not just a building, it is part of my life.”
Chow said Komtar was Penang’s symbol of vibrancy but it had quietened down.
“This is not because the government did not try. Change is happening fast.
Nursyafawati showing her cakes.
“Komtar proves that memories alone can’t bring progress, action can.”
He said Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was continuing to maintain the building and that the state had “never given up on it”.
Komtar assemblyman since 2013, Teh Lai Heng had been working hard to ensure the tower maintains its relevance.
“For these three terms, I have been trying to ensure this building continues to remain relevant for the people of Penang with support from PDC.
“PDC had spent about RM54mil on maintenance up to 2024.”
Teh said Komtar’s challenges were difficult to resolve as many units were privately owned, with about 75 still vacant.
PDC’s revival initiatives include the Zero Rental Scheme for selected units, particularly on Levels 3 and 4, to encourage more shops to open.
“I will also invite individual unit owners to take part in this effort.
“I hope Komtar will succeed in becoming an attraction (again),” he said.
Also present at the ruby anniversary were Penang trade, entrepreneurship and rural development committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol and PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar.
Komtar pioneer tenant Nickalas attending to a customer at his optical shop.
Among the carnival’s participants was baker Nursyafawati Mohd Ismail, who had turned her hobby into a small business.
Assisted by her husband, Muhd Nor Farhan Mat Zuki, she was selling four types of chocolate and cheesecakes.
“Normally we are able to sell about 50 pieces per day at events.
“But here in Komtar during the celebration, we sold 200 on the first day.”
She added that the festive atmosphere and increased visibility during year-end weekends helped drive demand.
Her cakes, priced from RM7 to RM17, could also be ordered.
Another trader, Sariah Ali, offered homemade durian crepes made with Musang King durian from Balik Pulau.
“I learned to make the crepes and took two years to master it.
“They are homemade and I’m glad they are slowly establishing their presence among locals.
“I’ve managed to sell 50 packets here and hope that it will increase.”
To go with her crepes, Sariah was also selling kopi gantung Perlis (served in a plastic bag tied on the side).
Visitors, too, said the carnival had brought Komtar alive.
Among them was civil servant Muhamad Firdaus Khalid, who came from Kepala Batas with his family after hearing about the carnival.
“Komtar has changed a lot over the years.
“It’s nice to see more local traders being given space to promote their products.
“We ended up buying cakes and handicraft because the kids insisted.”
Technician Noraini Jamil from Kulim, Kedah, came after seeing videos of the stalls online.
“I came with two colleagues after work and didn’t expect so many choices.
“The homemade items really stand out, and it’s good to support small businesses.
“It brings back memories of Komtar as a weekend spot.”
For many Penangites, Komtar was the sole shopping complex in the state.
Apart from promotions by art, food and souvenir sellers, The TOP Penang theme park in Komtar was offering a year-end promotion in conjunction with its 10th anniversary.
With 11 attractions under its roof, tickets for each were priced at RM10, valid until the end of November 2026.
Komtar’s groundbreaking took place in 1974 on an 11ha site, with the four-storey commercial podium completed in 1976.
The 65-storey tower was finished in 1985.
A notable incident occurred during construction when a fire broke out on the 43rd floor in January 1983.
Over the years, the complex expanded to include a bus terminal, shopping centre, geodesic dome and later the ICT Digital Mall and Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).
