Restaurant's ban on those wearing MCA uniform to stay

A Chinese herbal restaurant in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, has reinforced its ban on those wearing the MCA party uniform, saying it was just giving voice to the people who do not want to confront but live a happy life.

Named Red Yeast and located in Bukit Sri Bintang, the restaurant put up a fresh notice at its premises yesterday, as a sign of protest against MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha's statement urging the Chinese stop their confrontational attitude.

The operator of the popular herbal food outlet first put up a notice on Dec 6, telling those in MCA party uniform to stay away, but took it down last Tuesday, after its action went viral in the social media, especially on Facebook, and invited criticism from MCA members.

The fresh notice that was put yesterday says: "The restaurant doesn't serve those who don MCA uniform. Chinese do not confront, but want to live a happy life. This is the voice of the people."

Kong was reported as calling on the Chinese stop their attitude of confrontation, to know that politics is a game of statistics and with Chinese Malaysians making up only 22 percent of the population, they should realise their status and work with the other races.

His statement was the reason for the restaurant banning those donning the MCA uniform, restaurant owner Ngiam Chee Jieh said.

Ngiam said he did not want the issue to be exaggerated and took down the notice.

Lim: It's his right to freedom of expression

However, upon finding out later that his notice has already been spread widely online, he decided he to persist with the matter and put up the fresh notice yesterday.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was in Shah Alam today to officiate the Selangor DAP congress, came for his meal at the restaurant late this afternoon, with three other MPs from the party, as a sign of support for Ngiam's right to freedom of expression.

Ngiam, who admitted to being worried by his action and the criticism hurled at his food outlet, said Lim's presence had somehow soothed his fear.

Asked whether he would take the notice down again, or if it would be a long-term move, Ngiam said it depended on whether people came to his restaurant to cause trouble.

Lim, who is also chief minister of Penang, said: "There are not many people with the strength of courage, or a sense of justice, and there are even fewer of them with both."

Lim said such a practice was considered normal in Taiwan but Red Yeast has attracted a lot of attention simply because there were no precedent in Malaysia.

Lim emphasised that there was nothing abnormal about the action of the restaurant owner and that this was all part of the process of democracy.

MCA man finds it distasteless

Asked if he was encouraging others to follow Red Yeast's footsteps, Lim said people have the freedom to express themselves, even if it means having shop owners turning away DAP supporters.

Also present were the DAP MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun and Seremban parliamentarian Anthony Loke.
 
MCA Youth member Alex Lee was one of those from the party who have cried discrimination as a result of the restaurant’s action  and he called on the owner to apologise for insulting MCA members.

Ngiam had denied that he was a publicity seeker nor was his business practice a form of discrimination. Instead, he said that MCA members should apologise for making such accusations.

He said that no MCA members in party colours have ever turned up at his restaurant, but related an incident where two patrons claiming to be MCA members had spoken allowed about bringing their comrades to dine there.

"If they are here, I will tell them politely, we won't serve you. I want to defend my right," he said.

The 40-year-old businessman said that the public's reaction had been positive thus far and that the social media attacks against him, which among others accused him of being a homosexual and paedophile, does not bother him.