This story is about a Muslim restaurant owner who faced boycott threats for feeding stray dogs but in an unexpected twist of events, is now receiving support from Malaysian animal lovers.
Yesterday, a restaurant owner went viral for posting a video sharing how she feels about netizens who criticized her for feeding stray dogs.
Taking to TikTok, the owner of the Salai Star eatery, Puan Masha, shared her sadness over the hateful messages she’s received.
“Please understand, we love all animals.”
Source: TikTok/@salaistar
“You say you’ll boycott us just because I feed dogs, which you claim is forbidden. That’s not right!” Masha exclaimed.
“They are Allah’s creations, and as an animal lover, I can’t turn away and not feed them,” she said while getting emotional.
She went on to explain that her passion for feeding stray animals is a personal hobby and not an attempt to seek attention.
According to Khairin, 27, who manages the Tiktok for Salai Star, the restaurant started receiving unsavory comments like these about a month ago.
“A few customers would pass comments, saying “As a restaurant, you shouldn’t be feeding stray animals,” he shared with In Real Life.
Only 4 months ago, Salai Star had recently opened as a second venture run by Puan Masha and her family of 5. Their first business is actually their pet product shop, Mashacat, which is based in Skudai, Johor Bahru.
“They would say things like, jangan buat sampai orang boikot you.”
After they received such comments, the restaurant saw a drop in customers. “Business was slow, and we were struggling,” added Khairin, who is Puan Masha’s eldest son.
Puan Masha’s love for animals isn’t limited to dogs. She’s also been known to feed monkeys, birds, and cats – of which she has 50 strays in her house compound. At her restaurant, leftover food never goes to waste—it’s used to feed the strays in her community.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees her actions in a positive light, leading to some Malaysians sending hateful messages and threatening to boycott Salai Star.
In a weird twist, Salai Star is now more popular than ever!
After Puan Masha’s response to the boycott threats went viral, many animal lovers rallied behind her, showing overwhelming support for Salai Star.
Customers flooded her restaurant in Johor Bahru, turning what could have been a crisis into an incredible show of solidarity.
Even Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid chimed in, praising her for her compassionate actions instead of condemning her.
Hangpa tak kesian kat? Anjing pun haiwan yg dicipta oleh Allah. Janganlah benci sangat, geng #Love #BeKindAlways #Strays pic.twitter.com/58myLsc7b0
— Syerleena Abdul Rashid (@syerleena) November 24, 2024
Source: Syerleena Abdul Rashid (X)
One customer, O Tak Tan, shared his experience on the “吃的平台” Facebook page. He wrote, “This Malay lady faced a boycott because she was considered ‘unclean’ by her community members for feeding stray dogs. As a dog lover, I immediately felt compelled to support her. When I arrived, I noticed that the majority of the customers were Chinese.”
Source: O Tak Tan
He described how the owner’s husband was busy chatting with customers and sharing how people had been pouring in since 11:30 a.m. “Among the customers, 99% were Chinese, which was unprecedented. The restaurant owners said they were very moved by the support,” O Tak Tan added.
By 2pm, the restaurant was out of stock.
Now, business is booming! Due to the overwhelming response, the restaurant’s menu items sold out by 2 p.m., leaving the kitchen scrambling to restock. “The customers said ‘tak apa, esok datang lagi (it’s okay, we’ll come again tomorrow),” he shared.
By 4:30 p.m., only the smoked beef and smoked lamb fried rice were left, but customers didn’t mind—they simply wanted to support the business.
“Although the food here is a bit expensive, it’s simply delicious and worth the price!” O Tak Tan added.
In conclusion, In Real Life asked Khairin if Salai Star had any message for the public, and this is what he had to say:
“As human beings, we all possess humanity and compassion for others, including animals. Similarly, we animal lovers care and feed them, including dogs. However, some people hold prejudices against dogs, viewing them as filthy and impure, and they are often criticized and disliked.
But there is nothing wrong with feeding dogs, as they too have the right to live on this earth. Let us not harbor so much hatred that even feeding a dog is considered wrong. We have been given hearts to think kindly of all God’s creations.
For example, some people see flies as disgusting and dirty, but despite their perceived filth, flies play a vital role in decomposing carcasses. Without flies, the earth would be filled with rotting remains. Similarly, if we do not understand the good in dogs, it is enough for us to think kindly of them and continue to spread love.”
If you’d like to show your support, you can visit Salai Star at:
Waze: Restoran Salai Star
Address: 6, Jalan Sagu 18, Taman Daya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
(Note: It’s located behind Watson in the Flynn Garden business area.)
Have a personal experience to share?
Drop us an email at hello@inreallife.my and we may feature your story.
Read also: Help! This Langkawi Sanctuary Needs RM380,000 to Save 177 Dogs and Cats
Help! This Langkawi Sanctuary Needs RM380,000 to Save 177 Dogs and Cats
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