Najib: No ban on 24-hour eateries

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will not impose a ban on 24-hour restaurants and eateries in residential and rural areas, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).

The Prime Minister said the existing rule should not be changed and there should not be any concern about operating hours.

"The existing operating hours is convenient and comfortable to many.

"Those who own businesses will receive their income. If we restrict the operating hours, it will cause inconvenience to many people," he told reporters after distributing bubur lambuk to the people outside of Masjid Jamek in Kampung Baru here Saturday.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim on Thursday had said the proposal to restrict operating hours to midnight for such outlets followed complaints that these places were the reason for the rise in social ills nationwide.

He had said a note and proposal paper would be submitted to the National Social Council, led by the Deputy Prime Minister.

The proposed ban was for outlets in housing and rural areas.