By Carolyn Hong
Malaysia Bureau Chief
carolynh@sph.com.sg

 

KUALA LUMPUR

WARNING - Eat here only if you are a fan of, or at the very least, are indifferent to opposition politics. Because if you do, you'll have a giant poster of the Democratic Action Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng watching over you.

For that matter, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, too.

Welcome to the Rocket United Café in Petaling Jaya, the first café affiliated to the DAP. The rocket is the DAP's symbol.

'Jom, Ubah!': Enjoy your meal with a touch of political spice.
PHOTO: Carolyn Hong

As much about politics as it is about food, the cafe is partly owned by the DAP, or as the menu says, "licensed by the DAP". Members get a 10 per cent discount.

Walk in, and be greeted by a massive poster of Mr Lim and Mr Anwar acknowledging a ceramah crowd, with the opposition slogan "Jom, Ubah!" (Just Change it!) emblazoned on it.

Flip open the menu, and a photo of Mr Lim in handcuffs stares up at you as you peruse the offerings of nasi lemak, Sarawak laksa, char kuey tiaw, and more.

Mr Lim, now the Penang Chief Minister, was jailed in 1998 for sedition after he made certain allegations in relation to the case of an underaged girl who was said to have had an affair with a prominent Umno leader.

While deciding on the choice of coffee, you can read about DAP's history as a spin-off party of Singapore's PAP.

After eating, browse the rack of DAP merchandise from button badges to pens to books, and the party's newspaper Rocket. And if you have not registered yet as a voter, ask the cashier for help.

This must be first political café in town.

Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad opened his Loaf café in Langkawi and KL some years ago, but that has nothing to do with politics at all. Actually, if you didn’t know that Dr Mahathir owned it, the only clue would be his favourite foods on the menu, if you knew what those were.

Politics is so much a part of Malaysian life that there is hardly any sphere that politics hasn’t got its toehold in. So why not food?

It is certainly innovative, tapping into the thirst for politics that grew after the 2008 general election turned everything topsy turvy.

Oh yes, I almost forgot! The food at United Rocket Café? It consists of a wide range of Malaysian hawker favourites, and they were actually quite good.

Pretty inexpensive for Petaling Jaya, too. What will they think of next?

United Rocket Café is located along Jalan SS2/63, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.