The Accidental Influencer: Pak Wiy’s Misson To Document Seberang Perai’s Pasar Malam

AMID THE BUSTLING lanes of Pasar Malam Kepala Batas, where the aromas of satay, durian and freshly cooked food mingle, a man weaved through the crowd, clutching his smartphone. After making his routine lap of the night market, he turned on his TikTok livestream, ready to answer the questions pouring in from hundreds of viewers.

“Pak Wiy, can you check if the akak bihun sup (female noodle soup-seller) is here today? Just near the corner.”

“Martabak Abang Sado is open today, right?”

“How much is ikan temenung (Indo pacific mackerel) per kilo today?”

Abdul Qawiy, 39, better known as “Pak Wiy” (Uncle Wiy), has become an acciden-tal influencer. For most visitors, a trip to the pasar malam begins with a decision on where to park. For Pak Wiy’s followers, it begins by asking him what is available in real time. Every day, he visits different pasar malam in Seberang Perai, streaming their hustle and bustle—documenting not just food, but also familiar faces, returning traders and seasonal specials—to encourage more people to visit and support local sellers. Penang Monthly follows his unusual journey to document various facets of Seberang Perai’s pasar malam.

TAKING UP A MANTLE
Ironically, Pak Wiy never intended to become a content creator. His evenings at different pasar malam began with his side work as a Prudential BSN insurance consultant (aside from his day job as a risk man-agement officer). Setting up a promotional booth at local night markets introduced him to a steady stream of potential clients, but he soon realised that limiting himself to just one location weekly meant missing opportunities to connect with others.

Pak Wiy had then been following the late Mukhzanee Muhamad, also known as Chef Zarul, a Permatang Pauh content creator with more than 88,000 followers on TikTok. For many residents of Seberang Perai Tengah, Chef Zarul had become a trusted source of information on neighbourhood eateries, small businesses and, most notably, the Bukit Mertajam Wet Market. Unlike the conventional “viral” food reviewers popular among younger audiences, his videos served as a community noticeboard. He updated viewers on seasonal produce, promotions and even directories of wet market traders, making it easier for customers to connect directly with local sellers.

Chef Zarul’s passing in June 2025 left a void among the local online community. Inspired by his dedication to promoting local traders, Pak Wiy decided to continue documenting local vendors and sharing night market updates from Seberang Perai’s markets through TikTok Live sessions and content creation. Over time, his commitment earned him recognition among the community, with some followers affectionately referring to him as “Chef Zarul’s Nephew”. Almost a year into this task, Pak Wiy’s account has steadily grown to almost 5,000 TikTok followers.

MAPPING SEBERANG PERAI’S PASAR MALAM SCENE
After months of walking through various pasar malam, Pak Wiy has come to appreciate each market and their “personalities”. Although often overshadowed by Penang Island’s better-known attractions and street food, many pasar malam in Seberang Perai still have their own appeal, judging from their unique locations, distinctive features and generational histories.