Muslim-owned grocery shop continues family tradition of putting up CNY decoration since 1978

Faizan Abdul Wahet poses for a photo in front of his shop.

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Jan 21: Second-generation grocer and proprietor of Kedai Runcit Abdul Wahet, 63-year-old Faizan Abdul Wahet, remembers it was in 1978 when his family first decorated their shop with two small Chinese lanterns before Chinese New Year.

The grandfather of one, Faizan, said in those days, Chinese New Year festival decorations were not as common, unlike today, and were also a little expensive.

“Those days, we just wanted to be part of the festival, and some family members would find time to make the decorations and to create the festival atmosphere. It was always fun for all of us.”

Faizan revealed that it was not difficult for them to do so as his family, despite being Muslim, is of mixed ethnicity.

“I am of Indian-Bidayuh parentage. Since we are of mixed parentage, we celebrate and put up all sorts of decor for festivals—Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai Dayak, Christmas and Chinese New Year—especially for our grocery store.

“During that period in 1978, our family had already switched to a grocery store. Before this, our shop was a bakery, established by my late father in 1939, who came from India and sold ‘Roti Bengali’—huge loaves of white bread.

“As we are a grocery shop selling other food ingredients like wet curry, customers who patronise the Wet Market opposite the grocery store at Jalan Haji Taha would buy these from us, or buy other food that was not available at the market.”

Faizan Abdul Wahet poses for a photo in front of his shop.

Fiazan said in the past, before a festive celebration, he and his family would always make it a must to put up decorations, but not as ‘bright’ a colour as now to attract more customers.

“These decorations over the years helped us as our business slowly picked up, and we now can venture into other food-related businesses like food catering.”

Faizan, who at one point almost gave up the business, disclosed that with the help of a creative nephew and new business ideas, the eye-catching festive decorations they put up to attract more customers have brought ‘rezeki’ to them.

He elaborated that these days, his family members comprise many ethnicities and the festive decorations they put up also reflect their family roots and traditions.

Festive Chinese New Year decorations at Kedai Runcit Abdul Wahet provide eye-catching colour to attract customers to the shop which also sells titbits and cakes in conjunction with the festival.

Faizan (right) preparing an order for ingredients to make curry, for a customer.

“As they said, we are a truly ‘One Malaysia’ family and if my late father was still alive, he would be proud we can keep the family closely knitted and continue to keep the business going today.”

Faizan, who also speaks Hokkien to communicate with his regular Chinese customers, revealed that Chinese customers would come to his shop before Chinese New Year to buy dried titbits, cakes, and ‘acar-acar’, as well as ask them to prepare curry ingredients for pick-up on the eve of the festival.

“This trend is the same during Hari Raya, Gawai Dayak and Christmas. Some of my loyal customers even ask me to do catering for them during the festival.

“I feel good now; in business we need to be innovative and be able to attract our customers. I hoped festive decorations is one way to let people we are still here and ready to serve,” said Faizan.

Kedai Runcit Abdul Wahet is at Lot 542, Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol, Kuching and opens daily from 9am to 5pm. — DayakDaily