Drawing hawkers and diners back to food courts

Facilities such as the sinks, tables and chairs at this food court in Metro Prima, Kepong, are in need of an upgrade. — SS KANESAN/The Star

WHAT do Malaysians look for when it comes to a meal? Most times, we want it to be tasty, cheap and quick.

Usually, dishes served at public food courts would meet all these requirements.

If one is in the mood for chap fan (economy rice), there is sure to be a hawker selling it.

For a plate of chicken rice, you will probably find Malay and Chinese traders offering their versions.

Other kinds of hawker food commonly available at food courts are noodle dishes including the sizzling variety, which is my favourite.

Several hawker centres have signature dishes and many travel from afar to try them.

Fast forward to today, many public food courts run by local councils seem to have fallen into disfavour.

This is by no means a recent thing, but their decline seems particularly significant.

A week ago, I was in the Metro Prima area in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, for a work assignment.

This is an area with more than 50 eateries from kopitiam to restaurants selling Chinese and Malay food as well as mamak joints.

Right in the centre of this busy commercial area is a one-storey food court with about 30 stalls.

But during our visit on a weekday, only two stalls were open.

One was operating as a sundry shop, which meant only one was actually selling food.

My colleague and I decided to have a quick lunch there. It ended up being a hearty and tasty meal, and inexpensive to boot.

While many of the other eateries were packed with people, most gave a wide berth to this food court.

A quick glance around and one could understand why.

The entire place looked rundown, like it had not seen any upgrades in at least a decade.

The tables and chairs were falling apart, drain covers were missing while the toilets were locked up.

The operator of the stall we ate at said they had to fork out thousands of ringgit just to do up the kitchen and front area to make it appealing to customers.

It is a pity as I am sure if the other stalls there are open, the food court will be as popular, if not more so, than the other eateries in the vicinity.

This food court, and similar ones in the city, are under the management of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Food courts serve a vital role as hawkers are able to earn a decent income due to the affordable rental while patrons can get cheap and tasty food.

But Malaysians’ notorious lack of maintenance culture is reflected in the poor state of many food courts.

What I witnessed in Metro Prima Kepong can be seen in other areas too, as we seem to have a reactive rather than proactive approach when it comes to maintenance.

A new food court in Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama in Ampang, Selangor, for example, is bright, airy and has plenty of seating.

Yet, the older food courts nearby are facing the same fate as the one in Kepong due to a lack of maintenance.

A strong maintenance culture involves regular upkeep, repairs and improvements to ensure that the premises remain clean, functional and visually appealing.

Poor maintenance leads to run-down facilities, which results in an uninviting atmosphere that can drive away customers.

A thriving food court can be a vibrant hub of culinary diversity, where patrons can explore various cuisines and hawkers can showcase their signature dishes.

By embracing a maintenance culture, food courts can regain their popularity and compete well with other eateries in the area.

The situation has not gone unnoticed as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last month called on all state governments to formulate clear policies to upgrade and beautify food courts and stalls in the country.

He urged the local authorities to elevate and transform them into more appealing and functional establishments.

In Kuala Lumpur, two food courts in Masjid India and Bandar Tun Razak were recently given facelifts.

I hope that more funds will be allocated to ensure other food courts are also upgraded to ensure they remain the go-to places for cheap eats in a clean and conducive environment.

Until that happens, perhaps we can make it a point to support hawkers still trying to eke out a living at these places.