Report: Chong Wei says has ‘nothing to do’ with Raj’s Banana Leaf

KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Top badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei has denied any connection with a restaurant in Bangsar that was closed down indefinitely today by authorities over hygiene violations, a report said.

Regarding restaurant Raj’s Banana Leaf, Lee reportedly told news portal The Malaysian Insight: “No, no... I have nothing to do with it.”

Malay Mail has contacted Lee and is awaiting a response.

The Raj’s Banana Leaf brand is stated as being under Intercompass Sdn Bhd, a listing of certified halal businesses on Jakim’s halal portal showed.

Malay Mail’s search today of the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s records show that the Intercompass Sdn Bhd company has three directors, one of whom is Lee.

The company’s records named a “Lee Chong Wei, Dato’” with the same birthdate as Lee as a director, while two individuals by the name of Muhamad Rizal Abd Rahman and Muhammad Hafisze Hamid were listed as both directors and shareholders.

They also showed that Intercompass Sdn Bhd was incorporated in May 2012 and that Lee was appointed on September 14, 2016.

Earlier today, Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Health and Environment deputy director Chandrakant Patel said Raj’s Banana Leaf in Bangsar will be closed until further notice due to hygiene violations.

Chandrakant said the restaurant had an A-grade rating as it had previously passed cleanliness evaluations, but said the outlet’s hygiene violation was due to its lack of proper dishwashing facilities.

“They do not have proper washing facilities behind the kitchen although the cleanliness showed that the restaurant is in good condition,” he said.

A video that was shared online had shown what appeared to be the restaurant’s employees washing dishes using puddled water beside a drain.

Yesterday evening, Raj’s Banana Leaf posted an apology on its Facebook account over the incident that it said was done by newly-recruited staff, asserting that such an incident “has never happened before” and said that it will not recur.

The restaurant assured customers that it had consistently passed regular health inspections, adding that it will continue to monitor its kitchen and saying that “hygiene and cleanliness are our top priority”.

Following health authorities’ temporary shuttering of Raj’s Banana Leaf, the Malaysian Consumer Association (Maconas) urged DBKL and the Federal Territories Health Department to permanently revoke the eatery’s premise licence to send a strong message that such actions would not be tolerated.