Little coffeeshop a bustling haven during by-election

The Star

22-04-2025

Old world charm: The Xin Aun Nong Yong coffeshop in Tapah Road. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
TAPAH: Even as the Ayer Kuning by-election heats up with incendiary rhetoric, a little Chinese-style kopitiam in Tapah Road has been quietly bustling with customers from all creeds and communities.
The quaint Xin Aun Nong Yong coffee­shop has been serving Malays, Chinese, Indians and people from other backgrounds for the past 90 years and will continue to do so after all the bigwigs and politicians leave after the by-election.
Owner Phua Ah Leng, 67, said customers from all communities have patronised the shop even before she took over the business.
'My late father took over the business from the previous owner many years ago, while I took over about 30 years ago.
'Under the previous owner, the shop has welcomed all,' she said when met.
'The shop was only known as a Haina­nese kopitiam back then, and was quite popular among the locals who come mainly for breakfast. I am just continuing this.
'We don't sell food with pork, and our fares include beverages, homemade buns, toast, kuih and nasi lemak that we get from Malay traders,' she added.
Phua with her shop's homemade buns. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
Phua said the majority of her customers are from the Malay community.
'Their favourite is half boiled eggs and toast. Some of our other popular items are boneless curry chicken buns and chicken buns, which contain an egg and green peas.
'We also sell vegetable, red bean paste and kaya buns. Our kaya is homemade and is cooked over a charcoal fire, which I learned from my father,' she added.
Phua, who was born and bred in Tapah Road, said the small town used to be lively during the 1960s and 70s, unlike now.
She said a lot of out-of-towners used to stop by the shop for a break, as motorists would pass Tapah Road to get to Teluk Intan.
'Construction of newer roads and realignment of traffic flow have seen fewer people coming through here, causing a lot of shops to lose business and shutter.
'Back then, a class at SJKC Phui Chen can have between 30 and 40 pupils, but now there are about 35 children of various races studying there.
'Most of the younger generation have also ventured to other bigger towns or cities to make a living, leaving this place quite deserted.
'I also used to work as a clerk in Pahang and Kuala Lumpur but came back to take over the business,' she added.
Phua said the Ayer Kuning state by-election has brought more people to the small town.
'Business has been quite good in the past week. I would normally serve about 60 customers daily but now get 30% to 40% more business,' she said.
She hopes her daughter, who currently helps at the shop, would take over the business one day.