Pasir Pinji (PP) today is still the largest New Village in Perak, and third in the country. With large numbers of ‘cottage industry’ outfits that emerged out of the people’s hunger for economic activity, resulted by the conclusion of Malayan Emergency from 1960 onwards, PP was THE PLACE to seek artisan confectionary and baked goods, insence & religious paraphernalia, condiments like soya sauce, coffee powder, footwear and even plastic strings.

 

Due to that, PP used to boast a thriving local economy that was self sustainable, drawing in expenditure from non-village folk from nearby settlements and the city, and brought a buzz of prosperity to the village folk. One of the by-products of this prosperity is a vast offering of food hawkers to satiate the large swarms of people who wanted a piece of the action. Although today, the multitudinous array of scrumptious hawker food is still around, sadly the prosperity is no longer there to complement it. It must be acknowledged here that Food and the Local Economy is inextricably bound, especially in the PP context.

 

Anecdotal evidence also suggests that PP is suffering from a huge deficit of jobs for those living within; and businesses are also moving out as result of the deteriorating infrastructure, taking workers who use to live and work in PP along with them. For some who were previously relying on cottage industries to simply make ends meet have been thrown into poverty due to a lack of economic activity, hence reduced human traffic in PP.

 

For others, their very craft being lost altogether, due to a lack of interest in apprenticeships is also an alarming threat. With an aging population combined will all abovementioned factors, PP has for the past decade, and will continue to suffer from economic and developmental decline; and this harsh reality will only perpetuate further if no significant action is taken.

 

Ultimately, the government holds accountability in addressing these damning issues, of poverty, lack of decent work, regressing local economy, suffocating cottage industries etc. However, civil society and the private sector also can take proactive positive steps to reverse the paradigm; in providing a platform to highlight the attractions and hidden gems within PP, and reinvigorate the once thriving and prosperous cottage industry hub.

 

To achieve this, PROSPECT, along side with Sin Yong Guan Food Industries, DeMomentz, as well and the Pasir Pinji Community Centre, partnering with many local cottage industry operators, as well as local and neighbouring sponsors, will be holding the inaugural Pinji Food Fest 2015 (“The Fest”) to celebrate and highlight, and with creativity and innovation, draw in people near and far to enjoy, share and promote the hidden wonders, cultural treasures and foodie favourites found in PP.

 

With the view that action must be taken to return Pasir Pinji to its former glory, of being the Artisan Food Hub, three objectives were derived from the current harsh reality we face.