KUCHING: Hawkers here are urged to aim for ‘five-star’ standards of doing business to attract customers.

BETTER IMAGE: Affandi (left) and Ting show how hawkers can improve their image by wearing clean T-shirts, hats and aprons.— Photo by Chiew Su Ting

The call came from Global Upline Sdn Bhd advisor Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing at a press conference on ‘MBKS Hawkers’ Conference’ at Four Points by Sheraton Kuching here yesterday.

Ting advised hawkers to improve their environment, facility and equipment.

He said preparing clean and healthy food at reasonable price would encourage more local residents and tourists to have their meals at hawker centres.

“A lot of things can be changed. I think this is the time to change, change to a better environment, facility and equipment. Try to make your standard like five-star hotel,” he suggested.

“I would like to encourage hawkers to wear clean T-shirts, hats and aprons. It would create a good and high class image and customers would have confidence in hawker food.”

He said high quality of hawker food would attract more people to visit Kuching and make the capital of Sarawak a tourist destination.

Hawking is a self-sufficient business especially during the economic slowdown, Ting said, adding that every hawker has the potential to become a big businessman.

The conference to be held at Four Points on March 24 had received overwhelming response, said its organising committee chairman Mohd Taufik Abdul Ghani.

Jointly organised by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and the hotel, it is fully sponsored by Ting.

“The conference had attracted some 2,200 participants. The response is overwhelming and we can’t take any more participants,” Taufik said.

The council would organise other courses for those who can’t participate in the conference, he added.

Taufik said the conference would provide a platform for participants to exchange views.

The programme for the conference includes talks, workshops and tour. The workshops would be conducted in more than one language so all participants could benefit.

The participants would have a chance to visit the Four Points’ kitchen, he said.

Ting said kitchens in hotels like Four Points by Sheraton Kuching are off limit to outsiders. However the hotel is willing to show its kitchen to participants to let them have clear guidelines on how to prepare good quality food.

“I think many hawkers haven’t got the chance to see a big kitchen like Four Points. We open it to the public to let them know how to prepare food under clean conditions and the kind of equipment needed,” he said.

Ting would share his life experience during his days as a hawker and provide useful tips to hawkers on how to run their business at the conference.

Also present at the press conference were MBKS deputy mayor Abang Affandi Abang Anuar, MBKS councillors and hotel staff.