Sri Lanka, May 2 -- In discussions about the rising obesity rate of Malaysians, mamak restaurants especially have come under the spotlight as a possible contributor to widening waistlines, due partly to their long hours.

Mamak stalls are indoor and open-air food establishments particularly found in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia and Singapore, which serve a type of Indian Muslim cuisine unique to the region and by its Indian community. Mamak stalls' affordable food and unpretentious atmosphere tend to create a casual dining atmosphere.

Recently, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) weighed in on the issue, with a call for mamak restaurants and other 24-hour eateries, to no longer be able to operate after midnight.

CAP pres...