A screengrab of the controversial sign posted on the Facebook page of Sarawakian Alex Stmrock Wong before it was removed.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — A prominent hotel in Kuching recently put up a sign on its premises ‘advising’ its non-Muslim guests to dine when its Muslim patrons break their fast during the month of Ramadan, a Sarawakian has claimed.

Alex Stmrock Wong had snapped a photo of the banner at Riverside Majestic Hotel and highlighted the issue on his Facebook page last week, and asked his Muslim friends for their views, claiming the practice had only started recently and was not a norm in the state.

He also claimed to have sighted a similar notice at another Kuching hotel, the Grand Margherita Hotel, but provided no visual evidence on his Facebook page.

“A question for all my Sarawak-only Muslim friends. (My non-Muslim friends, your views are respectfully not asked for.) I have observed this notice is now placed at many dining establishments in hotels in Kuching. We never used to have this before. I took this picture at Riverside Majestic Hotel. Same signage at Margherita Hotel. What is your view on this?," Wong asked on his Facebook page, sharing a screenshot of the notice he took at the Riverside Majestic Hotel.

The notice reads: As a matter of respect, throughout the Ramadan period, all are advised to dine at the same time the Muslims [sic] guests breaking their fast.

Wong’s entry on July 2 drew over 280 shares at the time of writing, with a considerable number of Muslim commentators criticising the hotels for putting up such a notice and lamenting that it is not in the spirit of Ramadan.

"What?How it could be possibly imposed to non-Muslims.As a Muslim myself i'm totally opposite of the idea though it may be or may be not as "a recognition" or "respect" of whatsoever it may be (?????) from the management but this does not reflect the true colours of Islam," one of the commentator, Harun Ujis wrote in reply to Wong's post.



"I agree to comments that it could be merely for convenience of the hotel staff but it could also be pressure from patrons- the type who want full respect from all humankind for fasting Muslims..and this group can slowly influence Kuching society if we are not careful. The signage is totally unnecessary..maybe a call to the hotel can clarify the position," another Facebook user, Masnoon Bujang wrote in reply.

Another user, Adhadi Mohd III said; "A view from a muslim.. Not necessary. Go ahead.. Its allright. Kita dah puasa dari kecil. Normally its the management of some place who set this up. Maybe as a sign of respect. But we really don't need this."

rDayang Mariani Abang-Zain suggested that the notice was possibly put up as a reminder should some popular dishes that were “favourites” be gobbled up before the hotel’s Muslim patrons could partake of them after performing their prayers.

She believed it might be a sore point for some Muslims, especially if the hotel were slow to replenish the dishes.

“I have a feeling that this sign is put up at the Ramadan buffet. Esp when the hotel has more non Muslim enjoying the Ramadan spread, they are there enjoying the food, while the Muslim just took a little, then off to prayers before coming back to take their food. Many frustrated some favorites are gone, esp when the hotel is slow in replenishing," she wrote.

Wong thanked his Muslim friends for their replies, explaining that he only raised the issue to "protect Sarawak and slight paranoia about influence in Sarawak from certain trouble makers in authority in Malaya."

"I love Sarawak and reject the fanning of religious sentiments that's been happening in Semenanjung. We have no problems here and my own view is that such signage causes unhappiness amongst non-Muslims," Wong wrote.

He has since since deleted the Facebook entry as well as the replies to that thread, which he said was his principle on issues that might be deemed “political”.