So, you want to wait for someone to die before you act against such errant food handlers, operators?

So, you want to wait for someone to die before you act against such errant food handlers, operators?

It is shocking that the Health Ministry is taking the “rat’ and “cat nasi kandar” issues lightly.

It is even trying to imply that there are no issues! No need to take any action?

Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff took heath director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to task for his statement in The NST Online.

“Do you expect Malaysians to just accept what you said and let the incidents to rest just like that? You are so lame!” he said.

Syed Razak said both 7-Eleven and the nasi kandar shop in Penang (CORRECTION: Ipoh, Perak) must be closed down immediately for thorough cleaning and slapped with maximum fines.

“Only then they can be allowed to resume business. Not taking any punitive action is only encouraging all food handlers and operators to ignore hygiene management,” he added.

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General Election (GE14), said the health ministry was sending the wrong signal by not taking stern action and punitive action against such disgusting food handlers and operators.

“Malaysia is famed for its cuisine. With such errant food handlers and operators, how do you think both Malaysians and foreigners are reacting?

“In fact, these are the culprits who are tarnishing the image of Malaysia as a food haven or paradise,” he added.

“A high standard of food hygiene is expected by all consumers. This cannot be compromised in any way. So, take stern and punitive action to deter all from taking a lackadaisical attitude on hygiene-related issues,” Syed Razak said.

"After checks, Health Ministry says no rat infestation at PJ's 7-Eleven outlet

FAIRUZ MOHD SHAHAR

January 6, 2017

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry confirmed today that there was no rat infestation at the 7-Eleven outlet at Kelana Centre Point, Petaling Jaya, following public outcry over a photograph of a rat in a food cabinet recently.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry was aware of the issue that went viral on social media and has carried out its own investigation.

"The outcome of the checks showed that the glass display cabinet, as shown in the viral picture, was fully covered.

"Further inspection of the premises did not show any rat infestation," he said in a statement, today.

The photograph, which was spread via Facebook and WhatsApp, carried a caption “Spot a rat enjoying hotdog at 7-Eleven Kelana Centre Point. Please be careful when buying ready-made food in any convenience stores!!!”

It immediately sparked outrage among netizens, urging the relevant authorities to investigate the matter.

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry had carried out 126,086 food premises inspections from Jan to Nov last year, including special operations conducted twice a month.

"As a result of these inspections, 146 food premises were closed under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 due to the presence of rats and 91 compounds under the Food Act 1983 were also issued for the same reasons.

"The ministry will continue to carry out food premises inspections to ensure traders adhere to food safety." he said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd - NST Online

"Nation

Home > News > Nation

Friday, 6 January 2017 | MYT 12:41 PM

Picture of rat in food warmer goes viral
PETALING JAYA: A picture of a rodent inside a food warmer at a 24-hour convenience store in Kelana Jaya has gone viral.

The image, which was appended to a Facebook post, shows a rodent on top of a row of sausages and fish balls at the 7-Eleven outlet in Kelana Centre Point.

The incident is reported to have taken place on Jan 2.

7-Eleven Malaysia responded to the viral post on Friday, assuring that the issue was "an isolated incident".

"Please be assured, this is an isolated incident as we have certified quality assurance audits and regular pest control steps in place to prevent such occurrences," it said in a post on its Facebook page.

The company said it has conducted its own internal investigations and has cooperated with the Health Ministry office for the district of Petaling.

"The safety and well-being of our customers are of the utmost importance to us," it said.

It added that "further corrective actions" would be taken to prevent such an incident from recurring. - The Star Online"

BUKIT LANJAN: Let’s shame dirty eateries, demand enforcement and severe penalties

View the above video clip first before you read on this blog posting.

It is simply disgusting that a restaurant can be that irresponsible and blatant in failing to observe strict hygiene when handling food.

Although this apparently happened in Penang, this problem with errant and dirty food handlers and restaurants is a national issue.

“It is time for both state and federal government authorities to seriously look into public health and hygiene matters.

“Such food operators should be fined heavily so as to deter them from being lax. Perhaps it is time to blacklist such restaurant operators and those found failing to ensure hygiene for three or more times must be banned from the food business,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak said.

“Like those who abused the use of parking lots reserved for OKUs (Orang Kurang Upaya - Disabled People), let’s also shame such dirty and super unhygienic eateries,” he added. (Read this for context: http://bukitlanjan.blogspot.my/2016/12/bukit-lanjan-lets-shame-selfish.html)

“Surely we do not want such restaurants to continue to operate in Malaysia, especially those in Bukit Lanjan. If we do not do something about such errant eatery operators, they will continue with their lackadaisical attitude and diners will be put at risk.

“We must all unite to kelp keep an eye on such errant eateries. Most of us have handphones with video features. Expose the errant operators by sharing on Facebook and WhatsApp.

“Make sure the name of the restaurant and the address are clearly identified. We must press for strict public hygiene in all eateries in Bukit Lanjan,” Syed Razak said.

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan, said “don’t let what happened at the eatery in the video clip happen in Bukit Lanjan”.

“We all can play a role to ensure eateries observe strict hygiene and practices. If we unite against them, they will have no choice but to comply strictly or face closure.

“Better still, close them down permanently! The health authorities, local government enforcement agencies must all buck up to crackdown on such dirty and unhygienic restaurant operators,” he added.

Tony Warren added 2 new photos.
15 hrs ·
Spot a RAT enjoying hotdog at XXXXXXXX.
Please be careful when buying ready made food in any convenience stores !!!

Syed Razak said there was no point to temporarily shut them down and then allow them to reopen after clean up for repeat offenders.

“In the case of this video clip, the restaurant may be clean but the cat is not. It may carry diseases. How do you punish the restaurant?

“Fine them and then allow them to carry on? It is time to impose heavy fines to deter restaurants from paying little or no attention whatsoever on hygiene management,” he added.

N.37 LET BUKIT LANJAN SOAR WITH SYED ABDUL RAZAK ALSAGOFF