In a recent incident, a kopitiam owner in Puchong found himself at the center of controversy after scolding customers for drinking from their own water bottle in his shop. The incident gained widespread attention after a woman shared her experience on Facebook, detailing the rude encounter her family had at the kopitiam.
According to the Facebook rant posted on the Puchong News Facebook Group, the woman and her family were dining at the kopitiam when the owner abruptly approached their table and shouted, "No outside drinks allowed, put your water bottle away!" Shocked by the sudden outburst, the woman's husband questioned the owner's approach, leading to a tense exchange.
In response, the kopitiam owner appeared even more irritated, and a confrontation ensued. The owner's wife joined in, making derogatory remarks about the family's financial status. The incident was captured on video and circulated widely on Puchong Facebook community groups.
Translation:
The Worst Kopitiam in Puchong Meranti Jaya, First Experience Says It All
The kopitiam owner rushed over with an extremely rude tone, almost shouting, saying, "You can't bring drinks in here. Put away your water bottle!" We were initially shocked. Why did this person suddenly approach us like a maniac scolding us? Later, my husband went to his counter and asked him to speak nicely. Is it necessary to have such an attitude? We had already ordered three meals for the three of us. It's not a problem to ask us to order drinks; just speak nicely. Why use such a harsh tone? He then rushed towards my husband, seemingly ready for a fight. His wife came out to intervene, but she also used vulgar language, saying, "Don't argue with poor people like this. Damn, I am, after all, a customer. The attitude of this couple is absolutely unacceptable! If you're so rich, why run a kopitiam? There are posters in the shop stating that bringing drinks is not allowed. It's just that we didn't notice as it was our first time there, and also because our child has been coughing lately, so we bring our own drinks when we go out.
Asking customers to order drinks is not a problem, but the attitude shouldn't be so bad, screaming and cursing like a maniac. You'll lose customers like this and eventually close down!
The kopitiam owners, known as Mei Yee Kopitiam Meranti Jaya, issued an apology on Facebook, offering their perspective on the situation. According to their post, they initially asked the customers if they wanted to order drinks, but stopped when the family declined. Later, a staff member observed them drinking from their water bottle, prompting the owner to inform them of the 'No outside drinks' policy.
Translation:
Dear customers,
We believe that many of you have been following the recent controversy regarding our "no outside drinks" policy, and we would like to take this opportunity to share our perspective with all of you.
Firstly, we would like to explain the origin of the conflict. When the individuals involved and their families visited our kopitiam, we politely asked if they would like to order drinks. However, they informed us that they did not wish to order any beverages, and we respected their decision by not further inquiring.
Later, when one of our staff members observed them drinking water from their own water bottle, we approached them and pointed out the signs on their table and the wall stating "No outside water bottles, no outside drinks allowed." We must admit that our attitude and tone were not ideal when conveying this information, and we sincerely apologize for that.
We want to clarify that as a small business, our main source of revenue is from the sale of beverages to cover our daily expenses. Therefore, we have implemented the policy of not allowing outside drinks.
Regarding the accusation that our staff made derogatory remarks about customers who did not order drinks, stating that they were "poor people," we want to clarify that our staff did not make such statements.
We hope that everyone will not be misled by malicious interpretations.
As for the policy on not allowing outside water bottles or drinks, we would like to add that the owners of the store are very strict about this matter. Subsequently, after a few weeks of operation, the management behind the scenes also insisted on changes in this regard.
We apologize for any shortcomings on our part and hope for another chance to improve and better serve all of you. We appreciate your continued support, and we are committed to making progress for the benefit of our valued customers.
Thank you for your understanding.
While acknowledging their lapse in tone, Mei Yee Kopitiam apologized for the attitude displayed during the interaction. The kopitiam emphasized that they are a small business heavily reliant on drink sales for profit, justifying the implementation of the rule. They also refuted the claim that they made derogatory remarks about customers who don't order drinks, urging people not to be misled by exaggerations.
What do you think of this incident? Should local eateries start banning water bottles from their shop? Comment below.
