Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin is taking a bit of heat after posing a question on whether mamak eateries should be allowed to stay open 24 hours a day.
The query came in conjunction with the 10-year Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat program, which has four aims:
- to strengthen the promotion of healthy living culture
- to strengthen health wellness services
- to strengthen self-health control
- to strengthen environmental hygiene
In line with the above mentioned goals, Khairy took to Twitter to gain the public’s opinion on whether the operation hours of mamaks will effect the people’s health.
He asked, “In conjunction with #AgendaNasionalMalaysiaSihat, what are your thoughts on the operating hours of ‘mamak’ restaurants?”
Additionally, he gave the public two choices in a poll, ‘allowed to open 24 hours’ or ‘limited operating hours’.
But the people had different opinions…
Some pinpointed that cutting down on the operating hours of mamaks would hurt the income of those working there and inconvenience those working late shifts that need a place to eat.
Others shared that instead of focusing on eateries, education and awareness is necessary to help the people make healthier choices. But, education and awareness may be considered nothing if healthier choices are not affordable.
“Healthy food is expensive.”
What do you think?
Does the operating hours of mamak restaurants really effect the people’s health, shouldn’t it be the individual’s decision to make healthy choices, or is healthy choices just too expensive?
Let us know in the comment section.
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