KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — With lunchtime approaching, Gerai Masakan Panas Che Daud in Taman Sri Rampai would normally be preparing for the midday crowd. But at 11.40am, stall owner Che Daud Che Isa had just one customer to attend to.
The 59-year-old said business had slowed since the haze began, with some customers choosing to pack their food and eat at home rather than sit down at his stall.
He estimated that customer numbers had fallen by about half, as worsening air quality appeared to discourage people from eating out.
“My stall is facing some problems now. Perhaps it is because of the haze and people are afraid to come out, so the number of customers has decreased.
“Some customers are also opting for takeaway. They do not want to eat at the stall and would rather take the food home. But even then, the numbers are not as high as before,” he told Malay Mail.
Che Daud’s experience reflects the challenges faced by eateries as the haze continues to affect air quality across the Klang Valley, with restaurant operators reporting fewer dine-in customers, falling sales and changes in dining habits.
Despite the drop in foot traffic, some eateries continue to draw customers, although their regulars are increasingly opting for takeaway.
A restaurant worker about 200 metres from Che Daud’s stall, who asked not to be named, said those still dining in were often motorists who stopped for a meal while waiting for their cars to be serviced at nearby workshops.
At Warung Paman Sol restaurant in Taman Keramat, near the Jelatek LRT station, owner Solihin Faeez Mohd Shukri, 32, said daily income had fallen by between 20 and 25 per cent since the haze began.
While customers had not directly blamed the haze for staying away, he noticed that families who would normally dine in with their young children were increasingly sending one person to collect takeaway orders instead.
“There has definitely been a change in customer traffic,” he said, adding that takeaway and delivery orders had increased, although not significantly.
Solihin said he was keeping the restaurant’s operating arrangements unchanged for now, hoping the situation would improve soon.
But he was concerned that prolonged haze could have longer-term consequences for the restaurant business, as customers might become accustomed to ordering food for delivery rather than dining out.
“If it continues, I am worried that customer habits may change. Customers might become accustomed to using food delivery services and stop coming to restaurants to dine in,” he said.
In Shah Alam, the impact has also been felt at Miscusi Express in Seksyen 9, where Amir Habibur Rahman, 32, said sales had dropped by about 35 per cent in the past week compared with their usual level.
Amir said sales were initially largely unchanged, but the decline became more apparent about a week after the haze began.
He said fewer customers were coming in to eat, while those who did visit tended to look for indoor seating, an option his open-air establishment could not readily provide.
“There are also fewer people walking past the shop than usual,” he noted.
Although takeaway and delivery orders had remained steady, the loss of walk-in customers had affected overall sales.
Amir said he had no plans to change the shop’s operating hours, from noon to 10pm, as sales were usually strongest around lunchtime and in the afternoon.
Instead, the business was continuing to operate as usual while providing free face masks to customers who needed them.
The open-air setting had also meant more dust than usual, requiring the shop to be cleaned more frequently.
Amir was particularly concerned about the possibility of the haze dragging on for months, saying prolonged exposure could affect the health of both customers and workers.
“My hope is that the haze will not persist for too long, as some have predicted it could last until February next year.
“A lot of things have already been affected, and if the situation continues to threaten the health of our customers and employees, we may not be able to sustain the business," he said.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip previously told Malay Mail that the haze was expected to gradually subside next week following an anticipated change in wind direction.
During the North-east Monsoon, stronger north-easterly winds and more widespread rainfall were expected to help improve air quality, he said.