Eateries crying out for help

A far cry: It’s slow moving these days at the usually busy Yut Kee Kopitiam in Jalan Kamunting, Kuala Lumpur. The coffee shop is popular with both locals and tourists for its traditional Hainanese fare. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

PETALING JAYA: It is about one in the afternoon at a Chinese coffee shop in Petaling Jaya and char kuey teow seller Ah Hock is waiting for customers.

It is supposed to be the peak hour, but unlike better times, the crowd is just not there.