Deputy Minister donates one month’s salary to support Miri durian traders

MIRI (Jan 19): Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Chiew Choon Man has pledged to donate one month of his salary to assist local durian traders by providing them with proper trading spaces.

Chiew, who is also Miri MP, said in a statement posted on his Facebook account on Sunday that the contribution would be used to set up 20 special trading lots for small-scale traders at Emart Tudan until the end of January.

“Recently, I received news that truly saddened me, where several roadside durian traders in Miri were subjected to enforcement action.

“They are ordinary folk working hard to support their families, earning just enough to make ends meet. They trade sincerely, selling local durians at affordable prices to bring joy to the people of Miri,” he said.

While longer-term solutions are being explored, Chiew said he had decided to take an immediate step by contributing a month’s salary to support the local durian traders by securing suitable places for them to conduct their business.

“Consider this as start-up assistance, or we could even turn it into a Mini Miri Durian Sales Festival,” he added.

He also invited durian traders in need of assistance to register at his office at Pujut GK on Monday (Jan 19), with registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

Chiew further revealed plans to organise a durian festival as part of ongoing efforts to help local traders.

“The date will be announced soon. We may even organise a Miri parliamentary constituency fruit sales festival to attract tourists to Miri,” he said.

In recent days, social media was abuzz following enforcement action by the Miri City Council (MCC), during which durians sold by traders occupying parking lots at the Pelita commercial centre were impounded.

Many netizens have since called on MCC to show empathy towards durian traders, noting that they sell fruit only during the seasonal period.