M'sia celebrity chef under fire for questioning why fasting workers are so 'desperate' to leave office early

Celebrity chef Zamzani Abdul Wahab, better known as Chef Zam, has apologised after drawing criticism online over a post that appeared to question why some Muslim workers were "eager to leave" work early during Ramadan.

The controversy stemmed from a now-deleted Threads post in which he asked why people seemed eager to leave the office hours before iftar or buka puasa, the breaking of fast.

Post sparks criticism

He 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?”

The remark quickly attracted backlash from netizens, some of whom said the chef appeared dismissive of the realities many working adults face, including long commutes and family responsibilities.

One user responded by highlighting the challenges of travelling home during peak-hour traffic.

“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?

“Even my Chinese boss has never thought of saying something like this. And here we are, fellow Muslims, questioning each other? My Chinese boss is way better.”

Some online commenters, according to the Malaysia Gazette, suggested that, as a public figure who is financially comfortable, Chef Zam may not face the same pressures as ordinary workers.

Chef says word was wrongly chosen

In subsequent posts on Threads, Chef Zam clarified that he had used the wrong word and did not intend to belittle anyone.

He explained that the word “menggeletis”, which carries a negative connotation of being overly eager or unable to wait, was instead meant to convey “rushing” or “hurrying”, but was misinterpreted.

He also said his reference to “cooking for a catering business” was intended as a joke and not as a slight against those who hurry home to prepare meals or attend to other commitments.

“I would like to clarify that I chose the wrong word,” he wrote, adding that it had never crossed his mind to undermine the difficulties faced by those rushing home during Ramadan.

“We are all human”

In another follow-up apology, the 56-year-old acknowledged that his earlier statement had angered many people and asked for forgiveness.

He said he accepted the criticism directed at him and reflected that making mistakes is part of being human, regardless of age or status.

Chef Zam added that he had fulfilled his responsibility by apologising and left the rest “to god”.

He also described his original post as an attempt to simply gauge public reaction to a situation that commonly arises during Ramadan.

Top images via ProfDatoChefZam/Facebook