Sixteen hawkers associations in Penang have come out to refute claims by Gerakan that they were not consulted before the state government imposed the ban on foreign cooks in street stalls.

 

Penang Malay Hawkers Association president Azizan Jaafar said it is acceptable for foreigners to assist but local dishes must be cooked by locals to preserve its taste, which is part of the local culture.

 

“Also if the cooking is left to foreigners, what happens when they leave? We have experienced this when cooks from Thailand left for home and our businesses were left in the lurch. We had to close shop until new cooks were found.

 

"So it is better that the hawker stall owners themselves do the cooking to maintain the stability and continuity of their businesses," Azizan ( right ) said today at a press conference in Komtar called by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).

 

Kam Hock Eng, who chairs the Penang and Seberang Perai Hawkers Federation, said foreign cooks who have certificates can still be considered for restaurants and hotels but cooking should be left to locals to guard the authenticity of local fare.

 

For Penang Hawkers Association chairman Ooi Thean Huat, tourists come to eat food cooked by locals. "If they want food by foreigners they can go overseas," he quipped.

 

Penang Indian Hawkers Association chairman T Sabapathee ( right ) said work opportunities should be given to locals instead of foreigners.

 

"We spent a lot of money educating our own children. Why should jobs be taken over by foreigners?" He asked.

 

They were responding to Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong  who questioned whether the state government had engaged with hawker associations or held dialogues with them before deciding to implement the policy.

 

MPPP councillor Ong Ah Teong said those who were present today were chairpersons of hawker associations and big federations and not representatives of small committees.

 

"The big guns are here. If Gerakan is still not satisfied, ask them to go and ask the associations themselves," Ong said.

 

He said this would be his last response to Gerakan as he has responded to the issue on several occasions.

 

MPPP decided to implement the policy next year after a survey it conducted showed support for a ban on foreign cooks.

 

When Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng first mooted it, there were mixed reactions.

 

Some, like Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, hailed the idea while Malaysia's celebrity chef Redzuwan Ismail or Chef Wan described the idea as "ridiculous".