Cooking class among activities transforming under-utilised premises into vibrant hub A GROUP of youths have been trying to turn Pasar Awam Kluang in Kluang, Johor, into a community space by organising a series of fun and informative activities. Led by architect Cheong Gin Yih, the non-governmental organisation Rejoin Collective comprises seven members. Cheong, who is the NGO’s treasurer, said the group’s effort started in November 2022 after he visited the town market with Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi.
“At the time, I had just returned to Kluang from Spain where I had lived and worked for 10 years. “In Europe, public markets are the heart of the city and bustling with activities. “Some of these markets that I came across even have libraries.
“Such facilities were set up with help from the governments there. “I was captivated by the Kluang public market’s architectural features and was inspired to improve the facility,” Kluang-born Cheong told StarMetro. He felt that it was a waste for the market, which began operating in 1996, to be under-utilised despite having available space.
“The market, located in Jalan Berangan, comes alive from around 3am until 9am during which vendors manage their stocks and conduct business. “Yet, by midday, the market falls silent with no activities filling the space until the next day. “Rejoin Collective wanted to utilise the building’s unused spaces for creative activities, especially those by youths, to transform the market int.