Despite once being a beloved celebrity preacher and local entrepreneur, Ebit Lew’s name has been tarnished after allegations of sexual harassment. Amidst his ongoing court cases, netizens have shifted their attention to his businesses after social media alleges it will soon close its doors.
Facebook page SCRUT recently shared a notice allegedly from Ebit’s company Elews Mart Sdn Bhd. The notice, directed towards suppliers of Elews Mart, states that the company will close down all its store branches starting 15th January 2024.
Elews Mart is a chain of convenience stores founded by the entrepreneur in 2020 with 22 locations throughout Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Through the notice, the company expressed gratitude towards its suppliers and partners for their commitment to the stores and mentioned that Elews Mart would settle all remaining debt by 30th June 2024.
Unfortunately, there are no signs of the notice on the official Elews Mart website, so there is no way of verifying the content and source of the notice. The company’s official social media pages also have not been updated since October 2023.
However, many netizens have noted that multiple Elews Mart branches have begun shutting down and clearing out in the past month. Twitter account Fakta Bukan Auta recently shared that all three Elews Mart branches in Bangi have closed. The tweet also alleges that the store has faced multiple issues during its run, including employees not receiving their Employees Provident Fund contributions.
Many netizens have reacted to the news and closure of Elews Mart branches. Many have debated the reason behind the closure, questioning whether it was due to his scandals or economic pressure. Some claimed the stores have never been successful despite their marketing, so they had expected the closure. However, others theorise that the stores may have served nefarious purposes, like as a front for money laundering.
Despite the criticism towards Ebit, many netizens voiced their sympathy towards the employees affected by the store’s closure. What do you think is the reason behind the company shutting down?
