The dispute over the rotation of management at a popular nasi kandar restaurant in Penang took a turn for the worse after the state’s Municipal Council (MPPP) enforcement officers carted away its tables and chairs without giving a notice early on Monday morning.

In the 4am incident, some 40 MPPP officers arrived at the Line Clear Nasi Kandar restaurant in George Town and took away the outlet’s tables and chairs.

They had also tried to take away other items as well but were blocked by restaurant staff.

One of the restaurant partners, Lokman Madinah said they were shocked by the move by the MPPP officers as he claimed no prior notice had been issued to the restaurant owners.

He also described the move as cruel because the matter involved a family dispute and MPPP officers should work to help resolve the issue and not take such action.

“Why did they come at 4am? They said they wanted to issue a notice first, but where is their last notice? Actually we have already sent a letter to take the matter to the courts. So please respect the court,” he said.

Lokman also questioned the MPPP’s actions because the family dispute over the rotation of management at the restaurant will be heard in court next week.

“We respect the court. That’s why we did not act during the operation early this morning. We just stood at the restaurant and watched them.

“We urge MPPP president Datuk Pathiyah Ismail to cooperate with us. Please do not victimise the 11 members of this family. Let us resolve this family dispute in court,” he added.

A police report over the incident, which had been recorded by the restaurant’s CCTV cameras, had been lodged at the Northeast district police headquarters this morning.

The MPPP have yet to issue a statement over the matter.

In June last year, it was reported that authorities in the state had taken the initiative to resolve the family dispute over the restaurant’s operations to ensure it continues to operate.

The Line Clear Nasi Kandar restaurant has become synonymous with Penang, an eatery occupying a side alley on Jalan Penang since the 1950s.

But a dispute over the operations plagued the 24-hour stall after three cousins claimed the rightful ownership of the stall.

They have been identified as Abdul Latiff Thulkarunai, Sahubarali Mohd Hanibah and Pathumah Iskandar.
However the license holders could not run their business because the alley was occupied by another cousin, Abdul Hamid Seeni Pakir, who did not want to vacate the premises.

According to the original agreement, the cousins had agreed to run the outlet by rotation every year of which Abdul Hamid was given the opportunity to operate from 2008 to 2010.

The family feud then erupted when Abdul Hamid refused to hand over the site to Sahaburali in 2011.
In a bid to resolve the issue, the MPPP had called for a meeting to discuss the matter among the family members, but they failed to come to a consensus.

Then the MPPP, in a letter dated Dec 23 last year, advised all parties involved to find an amicable settlement based on the family’s original agreement.