RESERVATIONS for the annual Chinese New Year reunion dinners are barely trickling in despite economic sectors reopening and daily life resuming under Covid-19 standard operating procedure, Chinese restaurants said.

Only a handful of employers, who usually host annual lunar new year dinners for their staff, have made reservations less than a month before Chinese New Year, which falls on February 1 and 2 this year.

Usually bookings are nearly full a month before the festival, the heads of restaurant associations said.

Now, with Chinese New Year less than four weeks away, restaurants have at the most, just filled 20% of slots. Others have received enquiries but no bookings were made.

Lum Tuck Loy, president of the Malaysia Selangor and Federal Territory Ku Su Shin Choong Hung Restaurant Association, said one of the reasons people are not keen on hosting dinners in restaurants anymore could be due to social distancing rules, where only six are allowed to be seated at a table for 10.

“This has made it difficult for employers to arrange for dinners. It also means that as long as the epidemic lingers, the restaurant business for big banquets will continue to suffer,” Lum told The Malaysian Insight.

As a result, restaurants have decided not to stock up on ingredients to avoid losing money, he added.

Tan Boon Guan, director of Xin Yang Seafood in Batu Pahat, Johor, said his restaurant has only filled 20% of slots available.

The temporary suspension of travel by bus and flights under the vaccinated travel lane scheme between Singapore and Malaysia may also be a factor for restaurants in Johor, Tan added.

Although the suspension, due to concerns of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, is currently until January 20, the uncertainty is affecting customer sentiments and the restaurant business.

“Customers will probably decide on their Chinese New Year dinners at the very last minute.”

Tan said he will still order ingredients in preparation for this scenario but is reducing his orders by 80% compared with previous years.

“We still have to prepare raw ingredients, otherwise prices of seafood such as dragon tiger grouper and prawn may go up astronomically. If we don’t order ahead of time, we may end up paying too much, or suffer from a lack of supply.”

Banquet prices up

With the cost of raw ingredients and seafood up by 25% to 30%, the price of a reunion dinner has also increased by 10%. This means a reunion dinner set menu for six now ranges from RM600 to RM1,688, Tan said.

“We can’t pass the entire price hike of raw materials to the customer, so we can only increase the dinner set prices a bit. We can absorb the rest, as long as we are able to do business.”

Johor Kitchen Association president Ang See Kiong has not received many reservations from companies for their annual dinners either.

“Many say they want to wait closer to the date to make a decision while others want to look at the menu first.”

The reunion dinner is held on the eve of Chinese New Year, which this year will be on January 31.

Ang said it will take time for restaurants to recover but at least dine-in is now allowed.

More importantly, he said, restaurateurs and customers must each do their part in observing the Covid-19 SOP to prevent further outbreaks.

“We just don’t want another massive outbreak that could lead to a ban on dine-in again.”

Ang said restaurants should try as much as possible to maintain their prices, so as to encourage patrons.

“We can live with making a small profit. It will attract more people to come out and eat. After all, it’s not just us facing financial issues; everyone is.” – January 6, 2022.