Brickfields has a variety of dining places catering to the needs of the Malaysian community. However the standard of cleanliness in some of these places is appalling. There are a number of restaurants that have their wash areas close to the toilets. These wash areas stink because of their close proximity to the toilets which are seldom cleaned. It is nauseating to have had meals and then use the washing facilities. I hope restaurant operators take note and put in some effort to have cleaner toilets.
 
One way to do this will be to charge users of the toilet so that sanitary workers could be employed with the money collected to maintain the cleanliness. I have reported this matter to DBKL but they are for reasons best known to themselves not able to bring about any change. Let's hope the business community will respond and bring about a change in the mentality of the operators.

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We should post the names of these establishments!

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Not at this moment.The website and I could be sued, should patrons decide to boycott the shops I identify.

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Historically Brickfields was known for Indian food in the federal capital with only a few restaurants viz. Oriental and Devi restaurants (adjacent to the church). Incidentally, Devi restaurant was listed in the tourist directory as the haven for South Indian food. Down south, just next to the now empty Peking hotel  was the Kashi Brahmin restaurant which was the popular joint for  chappatis and its signature onion sambal along with its vegetable fares. Another restaurant going by the name of Jothy Bhawan opened for business in 1967 selling both veg and non veg items. At the moment Sri Paandi is operating at that address. There was one Sinhalese restaurant named Ashoka's in Scott Road which was known for its cleanliness and good food. Unfortunately it operated for a short span of time only.

There were also smaller restaurants operating in the area where Petronas now stands and also as outlets in Chinese restaurants along the whole of Brickfields. The latter can be attributed as the fore-runner to the present food court found everywhere in the country. Food stalls were practically unheard of those days except for tea stalls which slowly graduated to light meals like mee goreng, roti canai etc.

What I discovered was that those days the restaurants were clean because it was run by locals. The whole scenario changed with the advent of foreign workers who were recruited to work in restaurants. Owners are only out to make a fast buck. Perhaps Malaysians have grown to love restaurant food so much so that they do not mind the cleanliness factor. With the surge of restaurant goers the shop owners do not attach importance to cleanliness.It is indeed disgusting to wash your hands and gargle your mouth before or after a meal in a small wash basin and in a cramped space. Often the spill over effect can be felt by patrons sitting near the basin. And as you walk to the rear to use the toilet another shock will be awaiting. The kitchen assistants cut vegetables and meat just near the toilet. Often you find the toilet has not been flushed or lacking flowing water from the pipe. In one restaurant (I do not wish to reveal its name) I found a safety helmet being used substitued for the bucket in a toilet!

Perhaps it looks like we have to live with this new culture and  we have to blame ourselves for patronising these shops. If only my mother were to be alive why should I be patronising these filthy restaurants?!

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" 'There is enough for every man's need and not for everyone's greed'"

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