Netizens have been urging the government to extend the operating hours of restaurants from 8pm to 10pm during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Some people claim that because of their working hours, they find it difficult to ‘tapau’ their food before restaurants close at 8pm.
You also have the restaurant operators themselves who are complaining about a loss of income.
Some of them say they are at a risk of closing, having experienced up to an 80% drop in business.
With all these repeated calls and pleas, the government says it will hold talks on whether to revise the operating hours for food outlets in MCO states and allow them to stay open until later.
However, the Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association (PPPKAM) is of the view that there is NO urgent need to do so.
It told Astro Radio News for one, we are supposed to be staying indoors as much as we can, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secondly, for health reasons, we aren’t supposed to be eating too late anyway.
Eating late at night can lead to several health problems like increase in blood sugar levels, heart diseases and obesity and acidity.
Basically, the later you eat, the less your body is prepared to sleep, which can also have adverse effects on your memory and efficiency for the next day.
Also, did you know that 3.9 million Malaysians aged 18 years and above suffer from diabetes?
One of the reasons behind this alarming figure is our late-night eating habits.
As it stands, it's unclear if the government will heed public outcry on restaurant operating hours during the MCO, so if you’re still having trouble getting your food on time after work, perhaps try meal prepping - it will save you time and money!
Stay home and stay safe, guys!
by Roshini Ravindran and Kyle Roshen Jacob
