Nasi kandar by copter – I thought he was bluffing, says owner

 

IPOH: When the owner of a nasi kandar stall operating in a Chinese kopitiam here got a call at 3pm yesterday with an order for 36 packs of meals today, he was surprised.

At a time when business is very slow, it was a pleasant surprise.

But his jaw dropped and surprise turned to shock when he was told that the customer was coming by helicopter to pick up his order.

“I laughed out loud when they said they were coming by helicopter to pick up the food. I thought they were bluffing,” said Mohamed Nihmathullah Syed Mustafa, 57, who runs the popular stall nicknamed by regulars as “nasi ganja” here.

Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah Ipoh operator Mohamed Nihmathullah Syed Mustafa at his shop.

“When they actually called us to the Ipoh Padang to deliver, we were shocked to find a red helicopter parked there. The man who took the meals was wearing a hat, sunglasses and had a facemask. All we know is that it was a Datuk who ordered.

The padang is 1.5km away from his shop or a short three-minute drive away.

“The man paid RM360 for the meals and left. My son-in-law and I were shocked to see all this. In less than five minutes, the helicopter left,” he told FMT.

Nihmatullah said if he only knew that they were really landing at the field, he would have suggested sending the meals to the Ipoh airport instead.

Nihmatullah said selling 36 packets in a day was a blessing during MCO, as for the past year, the business has been severely impacted, with sales dropping by as low as 40%.

“There was once we had no sales at all and we had to close. Today, I am just selling to pay the salaries of my three staff. I thank God there is business during such a difficult period,” he said.

The shop, officially called Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah Ipoh, operates at the Yong Suan coffeeshop and lodge in Jalan Yang Kalsom.

Nihmatullah said patrons have three choices of meat — chicken, beef or fish — and his three workers would come up with the best “kuah campur” (mixed gravy).

He said each meal costs RM10 regardless of the meat chosen. The Datuk who ordered apparently ordered a variety of chicken, beef and fish, and additional salted egg.

Nihmatullah said the “nasi ganja” moniker given by regulars had always brought extra attention from Ipoh City Hall.

“They have lab-tested our meal three times over the past few years and found no ganja. It is just addictive, I guess,” he said.

Nihmatullah said he was the fourth-generation nasi kandar operator, at the present stall which has been operating since Merdeka in 1957. The shop is open from 9.30am to 6pm daily. - FMT