THE popular Rasa Food Arena Suria KLCC in city centre mall closes for good from today, its management said.

Rasa Food Arena posted its official announcement on its Instagram page, saying that the move was made with great sadness after serving customers for 22 years.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the permanent closure of RASA Food Arena Suria KLCC from 1st September 2021

“Thank you for your patronage over the 22 years. It’s has been a pleasure to serve you.”

No reason was given for the closure, but many other eateries in the Kuala Lumpur city centre have been put out of business by lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more than a year since the outbreak, malls and restaurants in the city have been quiet as working from home became part of the new normal.

On Facebook, people are reminiscing about their times spent with friends and family at Suria KLCC and eating their favourite food at the food court.

Former prime minister Najib Razak took the news of the food court’s closure to pressure the new government into doing more to help businesses and bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control

“If this can happen to the food court that has been so popular for 22 years, what about the fate of small food stall owners and normal restaurants?

“The government must restore the public’s confidence to go out and spend again. The people still do not feel safe to go out and eat out as Covid-19 cases are still high.

“The government must also restore the people’s spending power so that there is money circulating in the economy. Put money into people’s hands,” he said on Facebook. – September 1, 2021.