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Kota Kinabalu: Some 3,000 people are expected to flock to Sabah’s largest indoor tamu (market), Sabah Day Tamu @ SICC, held in conjunction with the inaugural Sabah Day celebration on Aug 31.

Sabah International Convention Centre CEO Datuk Dr Rosmawati Lasuki said it was an afterthought of their Sabah Day Luncheon to be held on the same day.

The luncheon, at an affordable RM35 per pax (a minimum of 10 pax) is thought to draw 3,500 diners to a traditional feast and especially those who had earlier participated in the National and Sabah Day parade.

“The price is because it’s farm-to-table where ingredients are sourced from local producers across Sabah.

“And then we thought, with the 3,500 here, why not help local entrepreneurs? That’s why we came up with the tamu charging only RM50 per vendor. 

“We want to inject confidence in Sabah’s entrepreneurs in creating not only corporate but individual partners,” Rosmawati told a press conference, Monday.

Some 400 vendors, including recommendations from government agencies like Scenic, MPS, IKSNita, Peladang, Fama to name a few, and individuals, will be operating from 7am to 6pm across three halls at Kinabatangan Level 2.

Rosmawati said handicrafts, seafood and vegetables would be on sale just like at wet markets but at an international standard setting.

“Some asked me if they could sell cows and I told them only if they have been slaughtered. We have organised korban (slaughtering) here and it wont be a problem.

“In the spirit of independence, our intention is to empower local entrepreneurs to also be financially free when it comes to income generation.

“We hope it could be a first step for the small timers to be noticed and pray that they may soon open up their cafes or get contract deals with whatever recognition they can get. It has happened before,” she said.