By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 22: After a decade of hard work and dedication, 37-year-old Megan Sia has officially taken the helm of her family’s renowned belacan bee hoon business, Ah Kheng’s Belacan Bee Hoon, continuing a legacy that began 60 years ago.
Sia’s father, 67-year-old Sia Chong Kheng, inherited the business from his father and ran the stall for 37 years before passing the baton to Megan, the third generation of the family to run the operation.
Having grown up around the stall, Megan became involved in the business when her father invited her to join him, eventually leaving her previous job to keep the family’s culinary tradition alive.
“The gratitude should go to the two gentlemen, my father and grandfather, for enabling me to manage the culinary delicacies and give me the livelihood,” she said.
Her father’s stall was named after his nickname, “Ah Kheng,” and while he now runs his own stall at BDC Commercial Centre, Megan operates at the Jubilee Ground Hawker Centre, a spot known for its nostalgic past.
“Here at the centre, my husband, mother, and sometimes my sister help me out,” she shared, emphasising the familial nature of the business.
In addition to their signature belacan bee hoon, the stall offers a variety of local favorites, such as sotong kangkong, and new items like curry chicken rice and noodles, introduced by Megan’s husband.
They also cater to evolving customer tastes by offering finger foods like sausages, nuggets, and French fries.
Reflecting on how the business has changed over the years, Megan said it’s a far cry from when her grandfather used to cycle around looking for customers.
Now, customers flock to the hawker centre to enjoy the dishes her family has perfected over the decades.
“Many regular patrons come for our belacan bee hoon, as the recipe stayed in their palates. We thank them for the support over the years,” Megan said, expressing her optimism that the dish will continue to hold a special place in Sarawakian hearts.
Ah Kheng’s Belacan Bee Hoon is located at Stall No 1, Jubilee Ground Hawker Centre Food & Drink, and operates daily from 12pm to 6pm.
For more information, call 014 845 8909. — DayakDaily
