TWO restaurants were ordered closed by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for failing to meet the standard hygiene requirements.
MBPP environmental health officer Bawani Murugasan said both restaurants, located in Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim and Jalan Jelutong, were closed down after MBPP officers found rat droppings during a spot check.
“Apart from that, one of the premises was also infested with cockroaches.
“Thus, we decided to close them down and the action was taken under the MBPP Bylaws 38(1) Food Establishment 1991.
“The two restaurants also will be closed for 14 days,” Bawani told reporters during the operation today.
According to Bawani, a total of eight compounds have been issued to the three premises today for various offences such as cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
“The compounds for the offences range from RM100 to RM250.
“This is the seventh operation since November last year and we will continue to do so until Feb 2.
“So, we hope this kind of operation, will instil some sort of awareness in the food operators to practise a proper food sanitation,” she added.
Bawani said a total of eight MBPP officers from the Licensing Department were involved in the operation.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal