HAMEEDIYAH IS OLDEST NASI KANDAR SHOP
GEORGE TOWN: After 114 years in business, Hameediyah is now listed in the Malaysia
Book of Records (MBR) as the country’s oldest nasi kandar restaurant.
Owner Ahamed Seeni Pakir Abdul Sukkor, from the sixth generation of the family running the restaurant, received the certification from MBR chief operating officer Christopher Wong on Tuesday.
Located at Campbell Street in the city centre, the restaurant has delighted locals and foreigners with murtabak and curry dishes since 1907.
Back then, a spice trader from Tamil Nadu came to Penang with his sons to seek his fortune.
Mohamed Thamby Rawther rented a house in Campbell Street to sell spices, then branched out to sell rice and curries under a tree opposite their quarters.
When his food business flourished, Mohamed Thamby started Hameediyah and the same restaurant with its iconic green and yellow colour scheme has been operating till today.
“This record is both a privilege and honour for us. A business like this involves a lot of sacrifice, long hours and team work.
“Through the years, there were problems and disagreements but we never detracted from serving the best curries to our customers,” said Seeni who now runs the place with his brother Syed Ibrahim.
The next generation is already onboard. Syed Ibrahim’s sons Muhamad Riyaaz and Abdul Sukkoor are very much involved in operations and Seeni who is 65 years old sees that the business would be in good hands when it is time for him to retire.
Beef rendang and kapitan chicken are Hameediyah’s bestsellers and in recent years the restaurant added rabbit and turkey curry as well as lobster rendang to its menu.
“When one is in Penang, one just has to stop by and sample Hameediyah’s curries. To run a business successfully for such a long time is definitely not easy and testament to their strong family values,” said Wong.
Hameediyah has since opened an outlet in Seberang Perai and two in the Klang Valley. A fifth restaurant is set to open in Sungai Ara here later this month.
The certificate presentation was witnessed by Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng who represented Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.