WHAT IS THE KOLONG?
WHAT IS THE KOLONG?
Born beneath an ordinary structure in Johor Bahru, we transformed a hidden underground carpark into a vibrant hub of multicultural exchange, creative entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. Our mission is to break cultural and social barriers, support small local businesses and create a safe and inclusive space for all. We believe that community begins where people gather happily, eat heartily, play freely and dream loudly.
It all began with a simple, urgent question:
“How can ordinary people survive when everything keeps getting more expensive?”
The rising cost of living in Malaysia has pushed countless families to look for a side income. Naturally, most turn to what they know best: food. You’ll see home kitchens turning into mini stalls, and families selling by the roadside just to make ends meet. It's a testament to their resilience, but it's often a desperate, unsupported hustle.
The Vision: A Proper Start for Everyone
We looked at that roadside struggle, the chance that people take to jump onboard on joining events with an exorbitant entry fee or starting an online business and promote on social media whereby it takes years to get a decent amount of followers. We knew we had to do something different. We wanted to give people a proper start. Too often, small vendors are left on their own, operating without proper hygiene facilities, without structure, and without support.
Our Core Belief
We strongly believe that everyone deserves a fair, safe, and affordable platform to begin their entrepreneurial journey, doesn't matter if you are not rich nor have any connections. Hence, we envisioned a structured space where:
New entrepreneurs could test their ideas without huge costs.
Families could work together and still care for their children.
The community could gather, eat, and celebrate local talent.
This isn't just another night market. In fact, given the space that we have make, we made it a point to get as many varieties of vendors as possible, food, drinks, clothes, etc. Our goal is to give opportunities to those who have never had one, the home cooks, the dreamers, the lets-try to start a business and the ones who just need a small push to get started.
What Drives Us: The Power of Community
But what truly makes this work isn’t us, it’s the community. This whole concept would fall apart without the landlord leasing us at an affordable rate, the residents who come out to support local vendors, the volunteers who help set up, and the local organizations that believe in what we’re trying to do. When the community supports local businesses, everyone wins.
When these vendors grow. They hire help. They can afford to pay a lot higher than the minimum wages. Parents can spend more time with their children instead of travelling and working long hours far from home, saving money from expensive childcare centers. As these small successes add up, something powerful begins to happen. The local ecosystem starts to balance itself.
When The Tides Turn
Landlords will realize fair rent attracts stable tenants. More people will choose to stay and build their lives here rather than seeking opportunities abroad. Bit by bit, the local economy becomes stronger, from the ground up. This may take 5, or 10, or even 20 years. But that’s our dream, to build not just a market, but a movement. One that raises the standard of our traditional night markets, empowers small businesses, and keeps the heart of Malaysia beating strong within our own communities.
Because when people come together, residents, vendors, and families, we’re not just selling things. We’re rebuilding hope, one stall at a time.