Fancy having nasi kandar, roti canai and other mamak specialties when you go on a holiday overseas?

The Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) is asking its 3,000-odd members to look at the global market and make their food world famous.

Newly-elected Presma president Ayoob Khan Muhamad Yakub said popular destinations for Malaysians in Europe, such as London and Paris, would be “first choice”.

“We want to see mamak restaurants expand to other parts of the world. We believe the food we serve has global appeal,” he said.

Ayoob, who operates the famed Restaurant ABC chain of eateries, said he would meet foreign investors to seek their involvement.

“Besides Europe, we are also looking at Asean countries where there is a ready market,” he added.

For a start, Ayoob said the asso­ciation would gather over 100 mamak chains to promote their brands at a food festival in Dataran Merdeka mid-2017.

“We are aiming to attract over 100,000 tourists.

“Food will be served free. We will also have fusion mamak-style cuisine,” he added.

On other matters, Ayoob said the association would focus on impro­ving hygiene at mamak restaurants.

To deal with the shortage of workers, Ayoob said Presma would actively promote jobs to locals through JobsMalaysia and the Human Resource Ministry.

“We need at least 15,000 more workers. With the acute shortage, customers are having a long wait.

“We really need the Government’s help in resolving this issue,” he added.

Ayoob said over the past six months, 60 restaurants had to close due to this.

On increasing costs, he assured customers that there would be no price increases at mamak restaurants in the near future.

“We are negotiating with our suppliers to get raw material at the best prices possible. These include oil, sugar, flour, milk and rice.”

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by BY JOASH EE DE SILVA

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