Kuching Festival Food Fair success marred by unauthorised booth subletting, says mayor

KUCHING (Aug 29): The just-concluded Kuching Festival Food Fair 2026 may have registered more than one million visitors throughout its almost month-long run, but there was also an issue that had cast a negative light over this accomplishment – unauthorised subletting of booths.

The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) had come across some successful applicants who ended up subletting their stalls for a quick income.

“No successful applicant should sublet their booths; those granted the approval to operate at the food fair must sell the items according to those listed in the submitted applications.

“If we allowed such subletting to happen, then the booth fee would be manipulated,” said Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng in his weekly Facebook Live session ‘Shall WEE Talk’ today.

For the Kuching Festival Food Fair, the MBKS imposes a fee of RM650 per booth.

Wee added that the council had been monitoring the situation and those involved in the unauthorised subletting had been blacklisted.

“We do conduct checks on the ground, and we keep our records.

“Those ‘bosses’ who were not around during our checks can write and explain to us the reasons behind their absence.

“We try our best to be fair to everyone.

“We don’t want our Kuching Festival Food Fair to be manipulated.

“Also, if you don’t understand what’s happening on the ground, don’t simply judge before (getting) an official response,” he stressed.

Running from July 22 to Aug 16, this year’s fair featured some 400 booths offering a rich variety of creative delicacies.

Pointing out that the festival had been carried out for 40 years, Wee hailed it as ‘an event that belongs to Kuchingites, and Sarawakians’.

“The festival has been serving as a platform that cultivates entrepreneurship among the locals, particularly the younger individuals.

“Some of them started from this fair, and later ventured into entrepreneurship, running an eatery or two, and gradually expanding their business,” he added.

During yesterday’s session, Wee also advised those whose houses sustained roof damage in the recent storm here to provide their information to the MBKS to facilitate the application for assistance from the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

In this regard, the mayor added that the SDMC had been briefed on the situation, including the difficulties faced by the affected residents.

“Following the briefing, the SDMC requested the MBKS to register the affected residents and forward (the list) to the SDMC for further consideration and assistance.

“The strong winds a few days ago caused damage to the roofs of several houses in the Kuching South (jurisdiction).

“After assessing the situation on the ground, we immediately brought the matter to the attention of SDMC so that assistance could be provided to these affected families.”

Wee gave assurance that the MBKS councillors and local community leaders would assist the affected residents in the information-collection process.

“Those affected should provide full name, MyKad number, address, contact number and photographs showing the damaged roof.

“Residents as soon as possible; the MBKS will do its part by facilitating the registration process, including the submission of the necessary information to SDMC.”

Those affected are advised to contact MBKS councillors Eric Tay on 019-889 9186, Chai Ju Loon on 012-899 6868, Albert Tay on 019-829 1211, or Judy Kho on 016-859 1592.

The applications to MBKS can be submitted via [email protected], or via WhatsApp on 011-1988 5962.