Penang City Council Warns Hawkers To Stop Fighting Over Customers In Frequent 'Table Wars'

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According to The Straits Times, the disputes would arise whenever hawkers forced customers to order food from the stalls nearest to where they chose to sit, instead of from further stalls.

MBPP has since taken to their Facebook page to address the issue, stating that a press conference to was held on the 16 February to discuss the ban of 'table wars' at all food courts and hawker centres in Penang, especially along Gurney Drive.

The signboards were put up on 21 June 2022 due to the influx of tourists in Penang at the time. Besides Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, the signs can also be found at the Medan Renong Esplanade Food Court and Padang Brown Food Court on the island.

However, according to MBPP councillor Connie Tan, complaints and videos of scuffles at eateries have begun to rise recently.

"This is not something new, but there have been many complaints during this post-pandemic period as more tourists are visiting Penang. We put up the signs last year," she said.

She added that the signs have a phone number that the public could contact if a hawker instructs them to sit elsewhere. The hawkers could also be issued a notice or show-cause letter for the offence.

"In serious cases, the stalls involved could be shut down for 60 days pending investigations."

"A sign board has no power (over the public)," wrote a user.

Many customers also shared their personal experiences at the food courts with one user commenting, "This always happens at the Padang Brown food court. If you were to sit in front of a stall owner, you could only order from his stall."

"If customers ordered from other stalls, the owner would get angry, despite the presence of the big sign that establishes the customers' right to choose where to sit." 

However, some users were relieved at the presence of the sign, reminding everyone that booking tables are not allowed.

"That's great. It's not as if the owner of the stalls own the tables, who cares where we sit. There's no such thing as reserving tables for others," opined a user.