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>KUALA LUMPUR - Eating outlets at the country's public universities should be made diverse to include chefs of all races to cater to the taste buds of the multiracial student population there.
Provisions should also be made to include an international food court to cater to the growing number of foreign students there.
This was the call by the Barisan Nasional Youth education bureau which yesterday persuaded the management of Universiti Malaya to reinstate a Chinese stall at College 12 that it had closed down recently.
The bureau chairman, Ahmad Ikmal Ismail, who was at the UM campus yesterday said: "We're glad UM has listened to our explanation about the need to cater to the culinary needs of Chinese students.
"It has also agreed to allow Chinese chefs to prepare the food at the stall as long as they abide by the university rules to ensure the food is halal and clean."
Ahmad said a new caterer had been found to run the outlet and UM's Chinese students had discussed with the caterer on the menu.
He added: "We're also glad to learn that UM already has plans to set up an international food court to attract more foreign students.
"We hope all other public universities follow UM's move in catering to the distinctive taste buds of all their students."
According to MCA Youth education bureau chairman, Chong Sin Woon, who had brought the issue of the stall closure to the BN Youth, the Chinese stall was ordered to close in May.
"However, on the insistence of students, the stall was allowed to operate until this month.
"UM then awarded the tender for the stall to another operator.
"The reason given by UM was that the stall served non-Muslim food and employed a non-Muslim cook."
Chong said the demand by MCA Youth, acting on behalf of Chinese students, was that the food be prepared by a Chinese chef, especially as there were a total of 13 other stalls at College 12, run by Muslim operators.
He said during the meeting with UM's deputy vice-chancellor in charge of student affairs and alumni, Prof Madya Dr Azarae Idris, BN Youth had stressed that the interests of about 600 Chinese students out of the 1,200 students staying at College 12, be taken into consideration.
Chong said only Universiti Sains Malaysia had proper Chinese food stalls while Chinese stalls at Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were only allowed to serve vegetarian food.
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