By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, June 20: Not many people know of a lone satay vendor operating in the morning on the lane of the well-known heritage site of Wayang Park and its miniature fountain, unless you are familiar with the place or can smell the aromatic scent of the delectable charcoal-grilled barbecued meat.
If you ever wander into the vicinity, you will no doubt bump into a friendly satay vendor, Mohammad Al-Amin, who has been operating there for the last three years.
Popularly known as Amin by his regulars, he started selling in early 2021 after taking over from an earlier satay vendor called Rabak.
While fanning away the smoke on his traditional charcoal grill and neatly placing satay on it, he told DayakDaily that the lane is well-known for selling satay and its vendors, disclosing that before him and Rabak, a famous satay vendor called Pak Noh operated there.
“Pak Noh operated here for many years, and his satay and himself were well-known with patrons of the Syn Hwa Hui Cafe at Main Bazaar. I am the third satay vendor renting the spot here behind the cafe now,” Amin added.
He shared that not only do satay vendors like him continue the legacy of previous operators, but their presence also brings uniqueness to the site of the heritage lane and the park.
“Wayang Park, with its miniature fountain, has many tales from the era of the first White Rajah of Sarawak, Sir James Brooke. According to legend, it is where he saw a boy playing with water, believed to be the manifestation of Deity Kong Teck Choo Ong of Hong San Si Temple at Wayang Street here.”
“I hope satay vendors will always be present here in the morning. We want to play a little role in this vicinity with some form of attraction and stories for tourists and visitors, as we want to be part of the culture and traditions that make this place colorful in the city.”
Amin said the vicinity is where the old Rex Cinema once stood and where street vendors operated before Medan Pelita.
“In a way, we represent the street vendors that once thrived in this area. It is nostalgic for the people of Kuching. We hope to continue the legacy and let people know our satay. Thanks to the cafe, we can operate at the back of it.”
Amin revealed he took the opportunity to sell satay at the back of the cafe because his brother has a stall selling mee jawa there.
“Satay is one of the side dishes that go well with mee jawa, and in that way, I help my brother by offering more delectable choices for his customers at the cafe.”
Amin, who created his own ingredients for the bite-sized pieces of meat and peanut-flavored dipping sauce, said Sarawak satay is always a little different from the famous West Malaysian counterpart.
“Our portion is small and usually skewered further up the sticks, so it would be easy to dip and eat. Diners would not struggle to pull the meat from the stick and enjoy the barbecue dish.”
He said people could patronize the cafe and order from him, or any passer-by could buy from him directly while watching how he prepares the dish.
“There are not many people selling satay in a heritage site, and I am glad that I could still be part of the legacy here as a lone satay vendor.
“Tourists love our live acts here, and this is how we share our food and heritage with the world. I hope that I am not like the child-rhyme songs, that I am not just a satay man, but do come and buy from me,” he said jokingly.
Amin’s satay stall operates daily from 6.30am to 10.30am, except Sundays. For more information call 012-809 9734. — DayakDaily
