Noted filmmaker and writer Amir Muhammad today took a dig at Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over the latter's proposal to ban foreigners from cooking in stalls in the state in order to maintain the authenticity of the food there.

In a Facebook posting, Amir sarcastically pointed out that Lim himself was not a Penangite, and the same argument can thus be used against the DAP secretary-general.

"Saying that non-locals can't cook authentic food is as absurd as saying that non-Penangites can't be authentic Penang chief ministers," the man behind the banned film The Last Communist director wrote.

Lim, the second-term Penang CM, was born in Johor Bahu, and served as a three-term assemblyperson for the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency in Malacca.

Amir's comments adds to growing criticism against the state's move to ban foreign workers from being cooks in local food stalls. The same rule, however, does not apply to restaurants.

The state government is currently gathering feedback on the proposal.

“If the public say no, it won’t happen. I guess Penangites feel more strongly about this,” Lim said of the move.

Popular chef Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan had also criticised the move but Lim said that he would "agree to disagree" with the famed chef.

Some have, however, supported the ban, arguing that foreign workers are only issued three-year work permits and will not be able to gain sufficient training in that period to produce authentic Penang food.

Penang is famed for its street food, with many travelling up north to enjoy the likes of Penang char koay teow and nasi kandar.