Opposition to curbing 24-hour restaurants' opening hours

Asila Jalil Asila Jalil Updated 7 years ago · Published on 19 Nov 2018 12:40PM · 3 Comments

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says Malaysia must tackle the rise of non-communicable diseases, such as stroke, diabetes and heart disease. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, November 19, 2018.

RESTAURATEURS are against the government’s plan to limit restaurant operation hours as part of moves fight to non-communicable diseases (NCD), such as stroke, diabetes and heart diseases.

The proposal was also criticised because 24-hour restaurants are viewed as a part of “Malaysian lifestyle”, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.

She brought up the move to ban smoking in all eateries on January 1, which was also criticised by restaurant operators.

“This (smoking ban) is among the things we have to overcome together and another proposal was to limit 24-hour restaurants operation hours until midnight.

“But that was opposed, too, because it is said to be the Malaysian lifestyle,” she said during a World Heart Day event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Wan Azizah chaired a cabinet meeting on November 1 focused on a healthy environment to identify actions needed to overcome NCD, including input and involvement from various ministries and agencies.

She said, however, in a discussion with Singaporean counterparts, she was told that 24-hour restaurants are helpful for those who work late shifts.

“My counterparts from Singapore said sometimes those who work late-night shifts get food from 24-hour restaurants, as those are the only ones available at times where other restaurants are closed.

“We may think what we are doing is good for health reasons but we have to take into account other problems.”

Recently, more than 20,000 restaurant owners from three associations protested against the Health Ministry’s move to ban smoking in all food eateries from January 1.

The three associations are the Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association (MSCSPGA), Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) and Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas). – November 19, 2018.

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Comments

  • 1. Smoking ban must be strictly enforced on 1 Jan. Please no compromises
    2. 24-hour Restaurant should be allowed with condition that a 3-hour daily closure is enforced to facilitate thorough cleaning, washing of the entire restaurant - eating areas, loading & unloading areas, kitchen & storage areas - health and hygiene purposes.
    - For this purpose, the relevant ministry, and local council should reinforce their enforcement divisions to conduct weekly / random checks on all restaurants.
    Believe me the restaurants will flaunt the law and strict enforcement must be enforced..
    - MACC should draw up the SOPs for enforcement operations.

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • For heaven's sake we aren't paying you to concoct ridiculous new rules & regulations, Kak Wan. Stop being a fuddy-duddy puritanical killjoy... leave well enough alone, pleeeeeeaaaase!!! Any evil control freak bureaucrat can dream up a neverending procession of oppressive & utterly unnecesary legislation - only the wise know how to unmake laws, encourage people to accept more & more responsibility if they desire more freedom. The last thing we need is MORE silly rules, goddammit.

    Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • Life is tough as it is and she wants to take away the no 1 joy of the best malaysian past time - makan2 -

    :face-palm:

    Posted 7 years ago by Sharizal Shaarani · Reply