KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 ― Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today that Putrajaya has decided to maintain round-the-clock eateries because it would inconvenience the public if their opening hours were curbed.

Najib said the 24-hour restaurants, synonymous with mamak eateries mostly operated by the Indian-Muslim community, provide much service to the people, as he struck down Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim’s proposal to restrict opening hours to midnight.

“Regarding the opening of restaurants and 24 hour eateries, we have decided to maintain the restaurants being open so there is no need to worry,” he told reporters at an event in Kampung Baru today.

He added that if the restaurants were to be stopped from operating 24/7, livelihoods would be affected.

“The current conditions provide comfort and convenience to the people. For those who are in business also benefits them. If we curb the opening hours, it will bring about many difficulties for the people,” Najib said.

The Pekan MP also said the suggestion made by Shahidan was taken into consideration, but the government decided not to take it up for the good of the people.

“That is his (Shahidan) suggestion and views but the government has already made a decision. Our decision is not alter (sic) from what is already in place now,” Najib said.

Shahidan had made the suggestion in a written reply at the Dewan Negara to a question by Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dasuki, who had blamed “social problems” on 24-hour restaurants.

Shahidan’s proposal received brickbats from Malaysians who have assimilated round-the-clock eateries as part of their culture of late-night suppers.