According to the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas), banning 24-hour restaurants will simply harm Malaysia's economy and tourism while failing to alleviate the obesity epidemic.

Its president, Govindasamy Jayabalan, said a consumer group's recent request to outlaw 24-hour cafes to curb obesity would just make it more difficult for visitors and late-shift workers to obtain food.

"They failed to see that multicultural gastronomy is one of the reasons why visitors rush to Malaysia, as their arrival helps enhance the economy of the nation.

"Similarly, many factories operate 24-hour shifts, and these workers must eat at 24-hour food outlets," he stated in a statement on Thursday (April 25).

He also emphasized that the restaurant sector is not a "standalone" economy, since many other industries, such as meat, fish, and vegetable producers, depend on restaurants to exist.

"Whatever disruption to restaurant operations will also affect these... micro, small, and medium industries," he went on to say.

He asked the consumer association to collaborate with the government to address the underlying reasons for obesity in the country rather than using 24-hour restaurants as a scapegoat.

"Malaysians and visitors alike make their own eating choices.

"(The consumer organization) should take a more proactive role in collaborating alongside the Ministry of Health in order to educate individuals about losing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

"They should not think about garnering cheap publicity by targeting 24-hour food shops to make their point.

"Malaysians must be able to make their own wise choices," he added.

Govindasamy further stated that Primas was eager to collaborate with consumer organizations to develop methods to supply healthy and nutritious food and that its members would gladly engage in any food campaigns to give a healthy menu to the public.

Source: The Star