BUTTERWORTH, March 21 — In an unexpected revelation of the depth of support for Hindraf – from the Chinese community – an sms calling on Penangites to boycott their favourite nasi kandar stalls and restaurants has caused business to take a nosedive here.
"We lost customers, most notably the Chinese,” Malaysia Muslim Restaurant Operators Association president Sihabutheen Sirudu Mohamad has told New Straits Times.
He said people had been told wrongly that nasi kandar workers were involved in the illegal gathering last week to protest the Penang Government’s move not to carry out the New Economic Policy.
The Star reported that the SMS ended with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) slogan, Makkal Sakthi (People’s Power).
Hindraf called a news conference today to deny it was involved in the sms, and called on Penangites to return to the 250 or so nasi kandar stalls in the state.
“We appeal to the people of all races to support the nasi kandar operators as the cuisine is the pride of Penang,” Hindraf national coordinator R. S. Thainenthiran said.
He added: "Business is business, and it must not be associated with politics," he said.
Nasi kandar spokesman Sihabutheen was quoted in The Star as saying: “Business has dropped by 10% to 15%.”
In the polls recently, detained Hindraf leader M. Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah parliamentary constituency under the banner of the Democratic Action Party, a party previously seen as a rival only to the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component of the ruling coalition.
Words from the Pearl Island
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