Pelita Group director D Ramesh says the attack against him and the nasi kandar chain intensified after it was announced that the group will open three outlets in Saudi Arabia.
GEORGE TOWN: A director of the Pelita Group today hit out at business rivals who have taken issue that a Hindu is a director of the popular nasi kandar chain, a business largely run by Muslims.
The director, D Ramesh, who helped set up the first Pelita restaurant in Chai Leng Park, Prai here, in 1995, complained today that he had been the target of a smear campaign, with his critics panning him for running a business which is controlled by Muslims.
Ramesh, who holds a 25% stake in the Pelita Group, feels there is more to the smear campaign than just his religion.
“It intensified after we announced plans to open three outlets in Saudi Arabia,” Ramesh said in a press conference today.
Pelita had recently announced it would open branches in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia with the outlet in Medina set to open its doors in March.
Ramesh pointed out that although the attacks have been going on for some time now, it had intensified now with old issues being played up again.
Recently, a doctored picture appearing to show Ramesh witnessing a Hindu rites ceremony in front of a Pelita restaurant went viral on social media.
The photo was juxtaposed with the picture of the restaurant’s Jalan Ampang branch and a picture of a group of men receiving blessings from a Hindu priest. This gave the impression that Hindu prayers were being conducted outside the outlet.
Ramesh pointed out that although the attacks have been going on for some time now, it had intensified now with old issues being played up again.
Recently, a doctored picture appearing to show Ramesh witnessing a Hindu rites ceremony in front of a Pelita restaurant went viral on social media.
The photo was juxtaposed with the picture of the restaurant’s Jalan Ampang branch and a picture of a group of men receiving blessings from a Hindu priest. This gave the impression that Hindu prayers were being conducted outside the outlet.
That photograph, Ramesh explained, was the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple hall in Seberang Jaya in 2012. He was invited to that function by then MIC president G Palanivel.
“As a businessman, I am very sensitive to matters related to the running of a Muslim restaurant and its halal certification. We have always taken steps to ensure it remains that way.”
Ramesh said he was deeply disappointed with the attacks against the Pelita Group just because it has a “Hindu shareholder”. Out of the seven shareholders, six are Muslims.
He is now thinking of throwing in the towel.
“I have been contemplating leaving a long time ago when these attacks began, but my fellow director and adviser, Shamsuri Ahmad, was the one who asked me to stay on despite everything.
“He told me it was not wrong to have non-Muslims being shareholders in a Muslim company,” Ramesh said.
Shamsuri, a famous Muslim preacher, joined the Pelita group after 2000.
Pelita executive director Sihabutheen Kirudu Mohamed said the group has taken steps to ensure its operations and food served are halal throughout.
He said Pelita has its own halal-certified chicken-slaughtering company run by a Muslim scholar and a surau at all of its restaurants. The chain closes all outlets for an hour for Friday prayers.
All outlets have the halal certification from Jakim.
Sihabutheen pointed out that although a Hindu, Ramesh sponsors six poor Muslims for their umrah every year. And this is from his own pocket.
Pelita made it into the Malaysia Book of Records last year as the largest nasi kandar restaurant chain in the country with 25 outlets.
Two more outlets are in the pipeline. One will be opened in Sunway Resort, Subang Jaya, in March and Pelita’s 27th outlet will open its doors in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, in April.
Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/01/31/pelita-groups-hindu-director-target-of-smear-campaign/