By: Zaki Salleh
TAIPING — The Residents’ Committee (JKP) Zone 8, led by its chairman Councillor Lau Chang Ee, recently organised a gotong-royong programme at the Arked Siang Malam food centre here.
The initiative aimed to spruce up the iconic dining spot in preparation for the upcoming Chinese New Year, ensuring a clean, comfortable and harmonious environment for visitors.
Arked Siang Malam is not only well-known among Taiping residents but has also made its mark as the first food court in the area to move away from single-use plastic containers.
The impact has been encouraging, with rubbish around the arcade found to have decreased significantly.
Feedback from hawkers also indicated that daily waste volume has dropped by as much as 50 per cent.
However, several challenges still need attention.
Food outlets on both sides of the arcade are not yet fully covered under enforcement measures, resulting in some plastic waste still being brought in by customers.
This highlights that maintaining cleanliness requires cooperation from all parties, with both traders and visitors playing their part.
Overall, the gotong-royong was more than just a cleaning activity; it was an effort to build awareness that cleanliness is a shared responsibility.
With continued cooperation and community awareness, Arked Siang Malam is well-positioned to become a model food centre that is clean, sustainable and a source of pride for the town of Taiping.
