Labour shortages leave mamak eateries unable to start 24-hour operations

KUALA LUMPUR – The lack of workers is causing many business premises, including restaurants, from 24-hour operation despite being allowed to do so upon the country’s entry into the transition to endemic phase last Friday.

An observation around the federal capital found that many Indian Muslim (mamak) restaurants, which are popular hangout spots after midnight, are only comfortable maintaining operations until 2am.        

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president, Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said the situation is due to many of these restaurants not having enough workers to accommodate operations despite high demand, even more so during Ramadan.

He said currently only 25% of the 9,000 Presma members nationwide are able to operate 24 hours.

“The demand is there, more so during fasting month for sahur (pre-dawn meal) and so on, but many workers have returned to their countries of origin during the movement control order before this,” he said today.

Jawahar said various initiatives have been implemented by the association, including joint programmes with the government to attract locals to work in these restaurants, but such measures have not solved the problem.

In this regard, he appealed to the government to help lighten the burden of 24-hour restaurant operators by facilitating the entry of foreign workers into the country.

“Even though the demand is high, we just don’t have the workers for our business. Imagine looking at the opportunities before us but we are unable to seize it,” said Jawahar.

Sharing the same view is Ampang branch Pelita restaurant manager, Hassan Mohideen who said that restaurants have many customers, but are short of workers so they have tried their best to provide good service.

“Despite the lack of workers, we are able to cope with the increased business volume since the start of Ramadan, but after this we do not know,” said Hassan.

Meanwhile, the manager of a convenience store in Setapak, Salmah Said, said her branch is still unable to start 24-hour operation due to the shortage of workers.

“So far we are only operating from 6am to midnight and the issue has been brought to the management and they are looking at the problem,” he said. – Bernama, April 4, 2022