No diners as Covid-19 numbers spook many in Penang

 

The scene at the New World Park, a large open-air food court, where only two out of the 200-odd tables were occupied with dine-in customers.

GEORGE TOWN: The notion that Penangites would ditch the takeaway boxes and rush to their favourite eateries with the relaxation of SOPs on dining in from today for those who are fully vaccinated, was proven wrong.

Despite having to resort to takeaway orders or food delivery from their favourite restaurants and stalls over the past three months, many locals put their health and safety first instead.

Checks by FMT showed that not many were keen on eating at restaurants today, despite it being a public holiday.

Restaurants, too, did not seem keen on having people come into their premises. This was not only because their own staff had not been vaccinated, but also because there was a lack of detailed SOPs by the Penang Island city council (MBPP) when it comes to dine-in customers.

Lee Eng Lai, 72, who runs the famous Swatow Lane ice kacang shop said as much as he would like to open up his dining area for fully vaccinated patrons, the number of daily cases in Penang was worrying.

The owner of the famous Swatow Lane ice kacang shop, Lee Eng Lai, with takeaway orders of ‘ang tau sng’ and other varieties of ice kacang in cups.

He said this was despite some regulars pleading with him to serve what is touted to be Penang’s best bowl of ice kacang like they had enjoyed all these years.

Lee’s son, Wah Kooi, 31, who works at the shop, said the takeaway ice kacang in cups had placated the tastebuds of their regulars for now, giving them an easy fix through a big straw.

“But that melts quickly and nothing beats having ice kacang in a bowl freshly prepared,” Wah Kooi said when met by FMT.

The Lees’ run their shop at the New World Park, a large open-air food court with over 30 stalls operating. Checks showed only two out of the 200-odd tables were occupied with dine-in customers.

No queue for famous char koay teow

The Siam Road char koay teow shop, where queues for the charcoal fire noodles sometimes snake outside the shop, appeared deserted today with only about five customers waiting for their orders in their cars. A shop helper said there are no plans to open for dining for now.

There was also no queue at the popular Siam Road char koay teow shop, with the operator deciding not to cater to dine-in customers for the time being.

Equally deserted was the Line Clear Nasi Kandar restaurant, with a cashier saying that only one couple had come in for dining-in after showing their vaccination certificate, and at least two weeks after their second dose.

A man in his 60s, who only wanted to be known as Kang, said he and his wife had come to enjoy some fish head curry and beef curry.

“The last time I came here was three months ago. I used to come here every other day. Happy to be here,” the retiree from Tanjung Tokong told FMT.

Line Clear operator Jumah Bee Kalanda Mastan said business had dropped by 50% since dining-in was not allowed three months ago. She added that most of the orders are takeaways and through food delivery apps.

Two senior citizens, who had been fully vaccinated, were the only diners at Line Clear Nasi Kandar in Jalan Penang this morning.

Hameediyah ordered not to allow dine-in

Meanwhile, Hameediyah Restaurant, which was supposed to open for dining-in customers today, was visited by police and health officials earlier this morning with instructions not to open up.

Its director Muhammad Riyaaz Syed Ibrahim said the authorities also ordered that all 15 workers must be vaccinated first before the restaurant is to allow any dine-in customers.

Passions of Kerala, a banana leaf restaurant here had also decided to say no to diners for now, given the unclear SOPs. Its manager Roy Krsna Nair said there had been no info from MBPP on the SOPs for dine-in aside from what had been announced about allowing fully vaccinated patrons only.

“You look around, there is barely anyone coming in to dine in at other shops. Everyone’s spooked over the rising number of cases,” he said. - FMT