NEW World Park drew a fairly good crowd at lunchtime today as it embarked on a promotion drive with its 40 stalls selling a variety of food at a discount or giving a special offer.
Among the notable customers to the famous food court in George Town were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state executive councillors Chong Eng and Soon Lip Chee, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi and Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
A visit to the New World Park was in Chow’s itinerary but he brought it forward to today after reading a report in a Chinese daily that business there has slumped to as low as 30% since it reopened for business on May 18. It was also the day that the state government has allowed dine-ins for all food premises.
“I come here to New World Park to give my support. It’s a good initiative by the New World Park management to come out with a promotion offer,” Chow said.
“The business here today looks not bad. Of course, it cannot be like before because fewer people are now allowed to a table because of social distancing.
“Every hawker and every customer must follow the standard operating procedure so that we can succeed in the fight against Covid-19.”
Chow, after having tucked into ‘or kuih’ (yam cake), pasembur and ‘bak kut teh’ together with Soon and Yew, later went from stall to stall to greet the hawkers.
New World Park operator Heng Leng Heng, 44, expressed surprise by Chow’s visit.
He said business at the food court, which was closed for almost two months during the movement control order, was quite disheartening in the first few days of its reopening.
“Today, however, seems to be the best day thus far. I hope with his (Chow’s) visit, our business will start to get better and better. I thank him for taking time to lunch here,” Heng said.
Discounts vary from stall to stall, with some offering 50 sen and others RM1 less. The drink section, for instance, throws in a scoop of ice cream if you order just a bowl of ice-kacang.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Alvie Cheng