KOTA KINABALU: A recent facelift with about 30 street artworks has drawn more people to visit old Foh Sang shop lots here.
The community project which costs about RM100,000 is a brainchild of Sabah Youth and Sports minister Ginger Phoong to transform the three-row shops into a vibrant, dynamic and youthful community hub.
A total of 25 artists were involved and collaborated with shop owners on doing graffiti based on the concept of their respective business.
Some of them are painted at the staircase, behind, inside and outside of the shops, on the shutters as well as the blinds.
Among the most sought murals include the gigantic three-dimensional blue spectacles drawn inside an optometry shop.
Its staff Elmi Bibi, 21, said ever since the completion of the mural project last month, there have been many visitors at the shop.
“We have people coming in our shop to take pictures with the gigantic spectacles. Our boss is fine with it.
“Besides that mural painting, the artist also drew John Lennon’s image on plywood using lenses,” she said.
Another street vendor, Zul, who has been selling household items at Foh Sang for about five years, said that he enjoyed watching people come to the shop lots to take pictures.
“This drawing of a lady selling watermelon at the wall of a staircase is beautiful and reflecting Foh Sang.
“It is fun to see visitors, especially youngsters, pose at the staircase. It makes my day here more interesting,” he added.
Foh Sang means harmonious community in Chinese, and it sure looks that way, despite all the hustle and bustle, and its reputation as the busiest street in Luyang.
Once a rubber estate, Foh Sang was one of the first commercial areas built outside of the state capital to complement the new housing developments in the mid-1970s.
Today, it has grown to become the haunt of food lovers. It is popular to those looking for special treats for breakfast, lunch, tea-break, dinner, late night supper and early morning "hangover" meal (Foh Sang prawn noodles are particularly favoured for that last part).
The shops are also known for "economy noodles", Shantung dumplings, traditional cakes, fresh fruits, roasted meats, seafood porridge or just plain old kopi-O.