Razarudin said the strategy was used by the restaurant owner to make Chinese tourists “feel at home”.

“The tableware was purchased online by the owner’s boyfriend, a Chinese national who is currently in China,” he said, adding that the restaurant’s licence is valid.

Yesterday, Razarudin said police arrested a restaurant manager on Wednesday after discovering that the establishment at Bandar Botanic, Klang, was using tableware featuring the images of communist leaders.

Bernama reported him as saying police seized five white ceramic bowls with Chinese inscriptions and images of former Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong and other communist leaders.

The other items seized included ceramic soup spoons with Mao’s image, ceramic tea cups with Chinese inscriptions and images, and business receipts.

He said the South Klang criminal investigation department raided the restaurant following a YouTube video on the eatery which went viral.

The case is being investigated under Section 47 of the Societies Act 1966 for publishing propaganda of an unlawful society.

It is also being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public.