An NGO urged Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to stop playing dirty games by mixing politics with the food industry.

Pertubuhan Minda dan Social Prihatin (PMSP) president Ramesh Rao  said that he had received calls from six restaurants complaining about the Penang municipal council (MPPP) warning them to change their foreign cooks to local ones.

He added that Lim's decison to issue a ban on foreign workers would only incite anger among the various races in Penang, he said in a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

"This is a political move, bordering on racial issues. If you notice, after the 13th general election, support for Lim from Indians and Indian-Muslim had decreased and will continue to do so," he added.

Lim, according to Ramesh ( left ), is trying to send a subtle message to the people of Penang, by chasing away foreign workers, thus crippling the Indian and Indian Muslim food industry.

The owners of these restaurants, he said, will start taking drastic measures if the harassment does not stop.

"They will send a memorandum to the Penang state government next week to request that the ban be revoked," said Ramesh.

'Huge losses'

Ramesh also said that the food premises employing foreign cooks will suffer huge losses if the restaurants were shut down.

"What is wrong with foreigners learning the ways of our food? Wouldn't it be good if these foreigners go back to their country and promote our food there?" he asked.

Indicating that the Penang work force is in a dire need of a jump start, Ramesh said that the Penang chief minister should discuss with the Home Ministry instead on how to come up with a better solution.

"Lim should confer with the Home Ministry to see how they can increase the work force, instead of chasing away people who are helping to generate an income.

"Banning foreign cooks will only kill the food industry," he said.

The ban will apply to all street hawkers and food outlets in shopping complexes.