‘Operating 24 hours is the reason why mamak stalls are popular’

PETALING JAYA: The convenience provided by 24-hour mamak restaurants is the main reason that helped them win a special place in the hearts of Malaysians.

Should they cease to operate round the clock, they risk giving up the most important factor that makes them popular in the first place.

Sharing this sentiment was architecture graduate C.T. Yong, 23, who said Indian Muslim restaurants were his favourite hangout spots during his university years.

“We always worked through the night for our projects in the studio. When we got hungry at about 3am or 4am, the mamak stall was always our first choice,” he said.

Yong, whose favourite mamak food includes roti sardin and maggi goreng, said these restaurants can be found in almost every neighbourhood in the Klang Valley.

“There are more 24-hour fast food eateries now but to me, they still lose out to mamak restaurants in terms of number of outlets and food variety,” he said, adding that hanging out and chatting with friends over teh tarik at these eateries has become part of the Malaysian culture.

The Star reported yesterday that the 24-hour mamak eateries found it hard to keep their long operation hours because of rising costs and worker shortage.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association president Ayoob Khan Muhamad Yakub said many restaurant operators were considering closing down or switching to normal hours as raising prices would be counterproductive.

Oscar Wong, a 21-year-old college student who frequently visits these restaurants, said he likes to watch sports events and football matches there.

“It is especially so when there are important matches involving Malaysian athletes or the Malaysian football team,” he said.

Watching these events at 24-hour mamak stalls among a huge crowd makes for a very Malaysian experience, Wong added.

“College students like us also meet there to discuss our assignments or simply to hang out. These Indian Muslim restaurants play an important role in the lives of college students,” he said.