Kepayan Square Weekly Tamu Opens at New Site

20 September 2025

PENAMPANG: The final compaction works at the new site of the Kepayan Square Weekly Tamu, located next to St Thomas Church, have been successfully completed, enabling traders to commence business there today.

This morning, Datuk Jannie Lasimbang, Assemblywoman for Kapayan, visited the Tamu stalls together with officers from DBKK, Kapitan Yu Sang, Kapitan Alvin, JKDB Ong, and her team. The establishment of the new site for the Weekly Tamu was made possible through Jannie’s Assemblyman funding.

Earlier this month, Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, generously contributed 74 chairs, tables, and canopies for the traders’ use. This assistance has greatly facilitated their ability to set up businesses more comfortably and efficiently at the new location.

The Weekly Tamu is expected to operate at this temporary site until the roofing project at Kepayan Square is completed. Earlier this year, the Minister of Local Government and Housing approved an allocation of RM1 million through the Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council for the roofing project, following requests by Jannie and Ewon. Once completed, the project will provide a safer, more comfortable, and permanent space for both traders and the wider community.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to DBKK staff and my office for their efforts in arranging the traders in an orderly manner,” Jannie said.

“From the feedback I received this morning, the traders are pleased with this new location, which gives them more space to display their goods and provides customers with greater room to move around comfortably.

“They were especially glad to have the convenience of driving into the Tamu grounds to unload their tables, chairs, canopies, and goods, a change that makes their work much easier.”

Jannie added that this is an important step towards ensuring that local traders have a safe, well-organised, and comfortable space to continue their businesses, while also making the Tamu more attractive and accessible to the public.

“I encourage more visitors to come to the Weekly Tamu, which offers a wide variety of wares, including clothing, fresh local produce, as well as toys and trinkets. After shopping, visitors can enjoy coffee and meals at the nearby restaurants, which serve some of the most affordable food and drinks in the Kota Kinabalu and Penampang areas.”