Nasi kandar stall back in business

Cravings fulfilled: Customers taking their pick of the dishes to go with their nasi kandar at Yong Suan Coffeeshop in Jalan Yang Kalsom, Ipoh.

IPOH: The city’s famous nasi kandar stall at the Yong Suan Coffeeshop in Jalan Yang Kalsom here which health authorities ordered to close last week has resumed operations.

Its manager Mohd Nihmathullah Syed Mustaffah, 49, said the authorities had inspected the outlet on Saturday for cleanliness and said they could resume business the following week.

He said they started service as usual at about 9.30am yesterday, with their regular customers thronging the place.

“I don’t see any difference in my customers’ behaviour, although some had come up to me and asked whether people were jealous of the business and therefore had made such allegations.

“My customers have trust in me and the food, that is why they are not shying away despite all sorts of allegations made in the media and on Facebook,” he said.

The outlet was packed at lunch time.

A woman, who only wished to be known as Ze Aida, had posted on Facebook that a nasi kandar stall here had put faeces in the food.

On Thursday, the Kinta Health Department raided the place and issued a notice to the stall owner to cease operations until Nov 28.

The 24-year-old woman, however, apologised publicly on Saturday, saying she should not have made such baseless allegations.

The day before, Mohd Nihmathullah told a press conference that the closure had nothing to do with the allegations and he wanted proof that faeces were found in its food.

A regular customer, A. Gethenkutty, 27, said this place was his regular joint, and he did not believe the allegations.

“I am here with my friend from Miri. The moment we heard the shop resumed operations, we made our way here,” he added.

This is also the regular haunt of traffic police constable Khairol Najmi Roslan, 23.

“I am here almost daily for lunch, and I don’t believe the allegations one bit.”

Businessman Michael Chong, 48, had lunch at the shop at least four times a week.

“What was stated on Facebook is just pure nonsense. If the allegations were indeed true, you will not see so many people inside enjoying their food.” -Star