City dwellers have lashed out against the brouhaha on 24-hour eateries being the main cause of social ills among the public, saying the problem is in fact caused by the people's own attitude.

"The main cause of social problems stems from the individual themselves. If the person comes here just to eat, then what's that got to do with social problems?

"We have to look at the person's lifestyle. If he goes to a club and drink (alcohol), and then comes to a mamak restaurant, then it's not the restaurant that has ruined his life," said Mohd Azlan Mohd Jalaluddin to Astro AWANI.

Echoing his thoughts is Mohd Sabri Abdul Rahman, who describes mamak restaurants as a scapegoat blamed for social ills.

"They get drunk and then they hang out at the mamak restaurants. So for me, if they want to close down a premise they had better close down night clubs, not the mamak restaurants," he said.

While many would agree with Mohd Azlan and Mohd Sabri, there are those who have a rather different view on this issue.

For teacher Raja Ruzlin Raja Ariffin, closing restaurants earlier can save oneself a trip to the doctor's office.

"In terms of a healthy diet, it's good to close them early so that Malaysians know it's unhealthy to eat so much.

"But it can be good too. Like during the fasting month, these restaurants can provide the people with sahur (pre-dawn meal). And it's convenient for students too.

"Even for us, if we're hungry at night we would go to the mamak restaurant in front of our house," he said.

READ: 24-hour restaurants to stay - Najib