A FAMOUS nasi kandar restaurant in Jalan Gudwara, George Town, has denies a newspaper report today that it was ordered to close by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for being dirty.

Deens Maju Nasi Kandar Restaurant manager Mohamed Ismail Mohamed said the eatery was only compounded RM50 in an operation by local authorities.

“In the operation conducted by the MBPP Health Department yesterday, we were only compounded, not told to close for being dirty. A newspaper report, however, said our restaurant was ordered closed (for 14 days).

“In fact, since the restaurant opened in 2012, it has never been ordered to close, and has gotten Grade A all this while, meaning it is on average 88% clean.

“The inaccurate reporting has affected our business. We are normally always full, but it was quiet today because of the false news. (Business) dropped more than 50%.

“In fact, a delivery company cancelled its booking with our restaurant due to the report. There itself, we lost RM2,000,’’ he told a press conference in the Penang capital.

Present were Malaysian Islamic Restaurant Owners’ Association deputy president Kadhar Shah Abd Razak and Line Clear Nasi Kandar Restaurant director Abdul Kader Jainul Abdin.

Ismail said he hopes the newspaper will issue a correction, adding that MBPP should provide correct information to the media at all times, to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

Abdul Kader, meanwhile, said the Line Clear eatery in Penang Road was also affected by the report, which said the restaurant was closed due to hygiene issues.

The restaurant was not even involved in the MBPP operation, he said.

“I find it weird because there was nobody at our restaurant today. I was shocked to receive a WhatsApp message saying our restaurant was ordered closed during the operation yesterday, when the restaurant was not involved in it.”

Khadar Shah said the incidents affecting the two eateries should not have occurred.

They have not only hurt members of the association, but also the nasi kandar industry in Penang as a whole.

“The newspaper seems to be trying to sabotage the livelihood of nasi kandar entrepreneurs.”

Yesterday, Bernama reported that a well-known nasi kandar restaurant in Jalan Gurdwara was issued two compounds for having raw ingredients on the floor and the present risk of cross-contamination. – Bernama, February 21, 2020.