Pines Square Market preserves Sarawak’s traditional way of life

KUCHING: The Pines Square Market in Batu Kawa will help preserve Sarawak’s traditional way of life while meeting the needs of a growing population.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the markets remained important community spaces despite the growth of modern supermarkets, as they provided not only places to buy food but also opportunities for people to gather, socialise and maintain longstanding community ties.

“Modernising our wet markets will allow us to preserve our traditional way of life and the values that are important to Sarawak,” he said during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Pines Square Market today.

Dr Sim said the project was more than just the construction of a commercial facility, as wet markets continued to play an important role in the daily lives of residents, from breakfast gatherings to family meals and informal social interactions.

He recalled how his late mother used to drive to Kenyalang Market every day, not merely to shop but also to meet people and spend time talking to them.

He said such interactions were particularly important for elderly people, who might otherwise spend much of their time alone while younger family members were at work or school.

The project, estimated around RM15 million will comprise 270 market stalls, 18 food court outlets, a lock-up facility and a mini collection centre for farmers to bring their produce.

Dr Sim thanked the developer, Lee Onn Group, for choosing to develop a community facility instead of using the land for shophouses, saying the initiative reflected a commitment to sharing the benefits of development with the public.

“The farmers’ collection centre will allow local farmers to gather and manage surplus vegetables and other produce more efficiently, including products that may require further processing,” he said.

He said the facility would be the first mini-market collection centre in Batu Kawa, an area with considerable potential for vegetable cultivation and food production because of its proximity to Kuching.

Dr Sim also expressed hope that roadside traders in Batu Kawa would eventually move into the new market, allowing trading activities to be organised more systematically while attracting more visitors.

“Upon completion, the market will be handed over to Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) for management as a council asset, with applications for market stalls handled by the council,” he said.

He said the project formed part of Batu Kawa’s wider transformation, which had seen more than RM1.2 billion invested in infrastructure over the past decade.

He said Batu Kawa was being developed as a township for people from all walks of life, with residents able to live, work, shop and spend time with their families within the area.

“According to MPP, about 4,800 apartment units had been completed in Batu Kawa, with another 1,200 in progress, bringing the eventual total to approximately 6,000 units.

“The area also has 11 parks supported by an allocation of RM4.8 million, while further developments, including a new E-Mart, IKEA and St Jo International School, are expected to add to its growth,” he said.

Dr Sim added that the state government wanted development to improve residents’ quality of life without losing the traditional values that distinguished local communities.

He stressed that continued development required cooperation between the state and federal governments, as well as the private sector, to ensure that infrastructure and community facilities kept pace with population growth.

He said the Pines Square wet market was an example of how development could support traders and farmers, strengthen community ties, and preserve traditional values while meeting the needs of a modern township.