GEORGE TOWN – Nearly 200 nasi kandar and Indian Muslim (mamak) restaurants in Penang are at risk of closure following the loss of nearly 20,000 foreign workers.
Indian Muslim Community Organisation Malaysia president Mohamed Rizwan Abdul Ghafoor Khan, 39, said some restaurant owners are still not operating, while some still do not allow dine-in due to lack of human resources.
Rizwan said many restaurant operators had to repatriate foreign workers during the movement control order (MCO) last year, adding that there are also workers who only went back for holiday but are stranded in their home countries.
“We appeal to the government to relax the entry requirements for foreign workers like before because we really need workers.
“We have opened job offers to locals. Unfortunately, there is no response. That is why we still need foreign workers, especially from India,” he said at a press conference in front of Hameediyah Restaurant here today.
Rizwan added that job offers to locals are always open 24 hours, with a minimum salary of RM1,800 a month and various other facilities.
Meanwhile, Nasi Kandar Hameediyah owner Ahamed Seeni Pakir Abdul Sukkor, 66, admitted that the lack of employees has caused the famous restaurant to be fined RM10,000 for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) last week.
He said during the incident, his employees, who had just returned from performing Friday prayers, had to rush into the store to serve too many customers, so they forgot to check in on the MySejahtera app.
“Before the pandemic, we had 50 workers but now we only have 20 workers comprising locals and foreigners.
“Now, we are short of 30 workers because they have to return to their home countries. If we have enough workers, of course we will not be fined like last week.”
Last week, Hameediyah Restaurant, located in Campbell Street here, was hit with the RM10,000 compound after it was found to have violated SOPs under the National Recovery Plan.
It is mandatory for all employees and patrons of a restaurant to check in by scanning the QR code via the MySejahtera app.
Due to the shortage of workers as well, Ahamed Seeni said, many customers have to wait as long as an hour before being served, especially after interstate travels were granted starting last week.
He added that a Hameediyah branch, which served tandoori food here, was forced to shut last year due to staff shortage.
“During the MCO, we only received about 300 customers a day. But after cross-state clearance last week, we receive about 1,000 customers a day.
“I also hope to get permission from the local authorities to set up tents on the sidewalk so that customers do not feel hot while waiting,” he said – The Vibes, October 22, 2021
