RM15 mil Pines Square Market with 300 stalls to blend modern facilities with traditional values

Dr Sim (left) and others at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pine’s Square Market project in Batu Kawa, Kuching, on Oct 13, 2026. Source: Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 13: The Pine’s Square Market in Batu Kawa aims to preserve Sarawak’s traditional way of life while catering to the needs of a growing township.

In a TVS news report, Deputy Premier and Batu Kawa assemblyman Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said that despite the growing popularity of supermarkets and 24-hour shopping centres, traditional markets remain indispensable to Sarawakians’ daily lives.

“We must not only ensure that our markets keep pace with modernisation but also preserve Sarawak’s precious traditional way of life,” he said when officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pine’s Square Market project in Batu Kawa here today.

The market, estimated to cost around RM15 million, would feature 300 stalls and be developed alongside 34 nearby shoplots, providing residents with a more comfortable and convenient shopping environment while creating additional business opportunities.

Dr Sim said Batu Kawa’s proximity to Kuching gives it considerable potential for food production, sales, and related industries, adding that the modern market could become an important platform for stimulating local commercial activity.

Dr Sim stressed that a modern community should not consist solely of large shopping centres, but must also retain traditional coffee shops, markets, and public spaces where residents could interact.

“These places not only served everyday needs but also played an important role in maintaining community ties,” he said.

He added that traditional markets were more than places to buy and sell fresh produce; they also embodied local culture and fostered interaction among residents.

Upgrading their facilities was therefore essential to ensuring that they continued to serve their purpose amid modern development.

He hoped the project would serve as a model for integrating traditional culture with modern facilities, improving residents’ quality of life while bringing greater commercial vibrancy to Batu Kawa. — DayakDaily