By Siti Baaqiah Mamat
KLANG, May 15: Frequent questions from customers about interesting places to visit around Klang inspired Choon Guan Hainan Coffee 1956 to adopt a unique approach by producing bottled coffee wrapped with labels featuring 10 attractions in the royal town.
Third-generation owner of the coffee shop, David Kan Yew Weng, 34, selected various iconic locations, including places of worship of different communities, as symbols of the harmony that has long been synonymous with the city.
Among the featured locations are the Chinese Muslim Jamek Mosque Klang, Istana Alam Shah, Kwan Inn Temple, Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Little India Klang and the Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery.
“Many customers who come to the shop ask me where they can go after eating in Klang. At that time, I myself found it difficult to answer. That was when I thought, why not use our products to help promote Klang,” he told Bernama.
He also believes that local traders can play a role in promoting the tourism sector without having to rely entirely on government initiatives.
More importantly, the young entrepreneur believes traditional coffee shops still remain relevant as social spaces for Malaysia’s multiracial communities if revitalised through modern operations, better quality control and healthier menu options.
“I grew up in this coffee shop, and since childhood, I have seen Malays, Chinese and Indians sitting at the same table while eating, drinking coffee and talking about all sorts of things… from current issues and politics to family matters.
“Sometimes, when the shop is crowded, customers do not mind sharing tables even if they are from different races. That is why I combined the identities of various communities on the bottled coffee wrappers as a message that Klang is actually harmonious and thrives in diversity,” he said.
Elaborating further, the Monash University Malaysia graduate said he initially faced opposition from his family, including his mother, after leaving his job at a consulting firm to manage the coffee shop in 2017.
“They sent me to pursue higher education because they wanted me to work for a large company. So when I returned and took over the coffee shop, many were upset and questioned my decision,” he said.
Choon Guan Hainan Coffee 1956, which has operated in Pandamaran since its establishment, opened its first branch in Bandar Bukit Raja in 2024 to meet growing customer demand.
Kan said that for nearly five years, he has been working towards obtaining halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), but faced challenges because the shop is located near a wet market.
Nevertheless, with guidance from Halal Development Corporation Berhad and i-Mesra in fulfilling the strict halal certification requirements, he hopes the family-run brand will continue to grow into a product that Klang can proudly call its own.
— BERNAMA