IMAGINE a dystopian future in Malaysia; one devoid of the familiar, comforting glow of a 24-hour restaurant sign for the weary traveller who needs a bite.
Also deprived could be the traveller about to catch a red- eye flight who needs some nourishment of soft-boiled eggs and a hot mug of coffee before boarding.
The rhythmic clatter of roti canai being expertly slapped to crisp perfection, the melodious chorus of teh tarik being pulled or the sizzle of a hot plate triggered by splashes of oil to make way for a fresh batch of capati serve as a solace for the exhausted e-hailing worker who just finished a late-night shift and has no food at home.
What is Malaysia − and especially the Klang Valley − without the sacred institution of our beloved 24-hour canteens, where Malaysians crave the instant dopamine rush of hot Milo and the camaraderie of sharing a table with strangers united by a quest for sustenance at unearthly hours?
Who has stoked the ire of society’s “prefects of proper sleep schedules and healthy eating” that have audaciously called for a repeal of operating licences for 24-hour eateries?
These self-appointed lifestyle prefects should also consider students – the lifeblood of our nation – who could be denied the post-study session comfort of fried noodles, and young professionals forced to endure the soul-crushing misery of traffic jams after work with no steaming plates of roti telur to soothe their weary spirits.
A consumers association last week had said that the widespread availability of food and drink around the clock could cause negative effects such as weight gain, sleep disorders and digestive issues.
After I did some research, I found no definitive proof that limiting access to late-night eating could improve people’s overall health.
Instead, this could lead to them finding unhealthy alternatives at home or elsewhere, or resorting to consuming junk food during the day.
The organisation also touched on the fact that Malaysians had the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in South-East Asia and that obesity was a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
While the association is not completely wrong in this aspect, the causes and management of obesity is multifaceted, with diet being just one piece of the puzzle.
Lack of exercise, portion control and overall dietary choices also play a big role.
With people tightening their belts due to rising living costs, many are also cutting out sports channel subscriptions as these tend to be expensive.
Life for die-hard sports fans without sports channel subscriptions could get trickier if Malaysia disallows eateries from operating 24 hours a day.
Fans often rely on late-night broadcasts at these restaurants to catch crucial matches played overseas.
While I’m not someone who indulges in a meal past 9pm for personal health reasons, I don’t feel it is necessary to ban round-the-clock eateries.
The overall impact of banning 24-hour eateries on health is complex.
While it might nudge some towards healthier choices, a multi-pronged approach towards tackling health issues would be more likely to have significant positive impact.
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