Local celebrity chef Zamzani Abdul Wahab, popularly known as Chef Zam, recently faced fierce criticism for insinuating that those who left work early during Ramadan were “desperate” to break fast.
It all began with a now-deleted Threads post by Chef Zam, where he later claimed a poor choice of words was was led to the furore.
What he said
According to the post, Chef Zam wrote:
“Breaking fast is at 7:29pm. Why are you so desperate to leave the office at 4:30pm and rush home? Are you cooking for a catering business?”
Needless to say, his remark drew backlash from netizens, who slammed him for acting aloof and being indifferent towards the struggles faced by working Malaysians.
One netizen wrote that many often leave work early due to horrendous jams and long commute waits during peak hours:
I work in Puchong and live in Kajang. On normal days I leave work at 5.30pm and only reach home at 7.30pm. Do you think everyone works right at the doorstep of their house?”
Issued 2 apologies
Chef Zam later took to social media to apologise for the post, saying it was poorly worded and that he had no intention of insulting anyone.
He also highlighted using the word “menggeletis”, claiming that he meant to convey “rushing” or “hurrying”, but it was misconstrued.
For the uninitiated, “menggeletis” carries the negative connotation of being too eager or inability to wait.
Chef Zam also said the “catering business” comment was meant to be a joke, not a jab at those who have to rush home to prepare meals.
He later asked for forgiveness in a separate post, admitting that his previous post had rubbed Malaysians the wrong way.
“We are all human, both young and old. Regardless of our position, none of us are free from making mistakes and that’s where we learn to become better.
“I accept every criticism from you and pray that all are kept away from making mistakes. I’ve done my part and I leave the rest to God.”
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