KUCHING: Kota Sentosa state assemblyman, Wilfred Yap Sau Sin, dismisses attempts to politicise his recent Chinese New Year visit to the 7th Mile Market, describing it as a goodwill gesture to traders.
He clarified that the visit was conducted in the spirit of gratitude and community, where he personally distributed festive couplets, calendars and Chinese New Year gift boxes to hawkers.
“Chinese New Year is a time for gratitude, harmony and community spirit. My visit was purely to personally distribute festive couplets and CNY gift boxes to hawkers,” he said.
He stressed that he did not instruct or arrange for any festive materials to be displayed within the market premises during the visit.
“For the record, I only distributed calendars and couplets directly to the hawkers. Any display of festive decorations was done voluntarily by individual traders,” he stressed.
He added that many traders expressed appreciation for the RM400,000 Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) allocation to upgrade the market, and the additional RM205,000 for toilet improvements.
“These projects, implemented by the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), have enhanced cleanliness, safety and comfort for both traders and customers,” Yap reiterated.
He said if hawkers chose to display festive couplets, it may have been their own expression of gratitude and festive joy.
“Such goodwill by the hawkers should not be twisted into a political issue, and MPP should not be dragged into partisan narratives,” he argued.
Yap also urged critics to channel their efforts toward securing additional development funding instead of creating unnecessary controversy.
“If there is genuine concern for traders’ welfare, then federal representatives should contribute allocations for further market upgrades rather than politicising a non-issue,” he added.
He noted that residents of Kota Sentosa want progress, improved facilities and stronger support for small businesses, not political drama.
“My commitment remains firm: to continue delivering real improvements and practical solutions for our community. Let us focus on development, unity and shared prosperity,” Yap stressed.
