Residents of Kg Rondomon pleased with MEDC Minister’s visit
- nabalunews
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
27 March 2025
KOTA KINABALU: There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air when a convoy of four-wheel drives thundered into Kg Rondomon Kudat recently.
The people gathered around the marketplace stalls, bustling with anticipation to meet the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDC), Datuk Ewon Benedick, in person.
As the Minister stepped out of his vehicle, the crowd moved forward to greet him, eager to shake his hand and engage in conversation. Among those who approached him was the Village Head of Kg Rondomon, Gudoying Majihi, who expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Minister for visiting the village during his tour of duty in Kudat.
“We are absolutely delighted to see him, as he has played a crucial role in establishing the tamu desa in our village square. With the new tamu desa building, we can sell our goods to both visitors and fellow villagers in comfort and shade. Previously, we had to make do with whatever we could find to provide us with shelter,” she shared.
A tamu desa is a traditional market or trading post commonly found in rural areas of Sabah and serves as a community hub where local farmers, artisans, and vendors can sell their goods, including fresh produce, crafts, and traditional foods.
"The population of Kg Rondomon exceeds 400. Currently, there are only 15 stalls set up at the tamu desa. Additionally, some individuals are using their own umbrellas for shades and tables for displaying their wares.”
“The men, or husbands are primarily farmers, while the wives are all involved in beadwork. Unfortunately, the cost of beads has risen significantly, making it difficult for us to fulfil bead orders due to a shortage of funds. I submitted an application to our State Assemblywoman Office last year regarding assistance for obtaining materials for our bead craft, but I have yet to receive a response,” she shared.
She is also thinking of making a village cooperative and will hold a meeting in the near future about the establishment of one.
One of the vendors, Marinah Pamintal, expressed her gratitude to Ewon for taking the time to visit them. She thanked the Minister for facilitating the establishment of the Tamu Desa structure, which has greatly benefited the vendors.
Marinah who sells food such as cakes, expressed her appreciation, remarking on how much it meant to them that the Minister had made the effort to visit their village. She conveyed her admiration for his commitment to supporting the local community and noted that the Tamu Desa structure has been tremendously helpful in enhancing their livelihoods.
Janita Losin, another vendor operating a food stall, conveyed her heartfelt thanks to the Minister for visiting them in the village. She expressed that it was indeed a generous gesture on his part to take the time to drop by and engage with the local community.
She appreciated his effort to connect with them personally, highlighting the importance of having leadership that is accessible and attentive to the needs of the community.
The Tamu at the Tamu Desa occurs every Tuesday and on Saturdays it opens at 3pm until 8pm.
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