IPOH, May 30 — The Malaysian Consumer Association (Maconas) has urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Federal Territories Health Department to permanently revoke the licence of an eatery where workers were filmed cleaning dishes in a puddle of water.

Its president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said today the authorities should also ensure that Raj’s Banana Leaf restaurant in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur was not allowed to operate at the same location again.

In a statement, Amarjit said issuing the eatery with a temporary closure and fine would not deter "irresponsible” outlet operators.

"Revoking their premise licence for good will send a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated anymore,” Amarjit said.

"We need to show that the authorities are willing to take the most drastic steps to curb such acts.”

Malaysians were shocked after a video surfaced online, purportedly showing the restaurant’s workers using water puddled beside a drain to clean dishes.

In an apology posted on Facebook, Raj’s Banana Leaf insisted that the incident was isolated and not standard practice — blaming instead their new recruits for the act.

In response, Amarjit blasted the shop’s owners, saying its excuse was completely unacceptable.

He said this showed that the owners had no regard for the well-being and health of the consumers who patronised the restaurant.

"The justification given by the owner that the acts were done by new workers is not acceptable by any measurement,” Amarjit said.

"Using dirty water to wash cutleries at a pothole is strictly a no-no. It’s just common sense. One can imagine how long such an action has been going on.”

Today, health authorities ordered the restaurant to close until further notice.