PENANG’s hawkers and community traders were encouraged to enhance their level of cleanliness and food safety during the celebration of Community Traders and Hawkers Day 2023 at the Esplanade today.
Organising chairperson Koay Gaik Kee, a Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor, emphasised the importance of personal hygiene in her speech.
She highlighted that the council conducts inspections and grades food premises and hawker stalls within the council complex from time to time.
“Cleanliness and food safety are pivotal for ensuring that the activities of hawkers and community traders contribute positively to the state’s economic development,” Koay said.
During the celebration, MBPP announced 49 winners across five business categories: Restaurant, Fast Food Restaurant, Eatery/Coffee Shop, Hotel Restaurant and Nasi Kandar Restaurant.
Koay said the grading process started in January this year, evaluating factors such as cleanliness, food handlers and equipment, stall safety, active typhoid injections and overall cheerfulness.
A total of 700 premises were graded, with 633 stalls assessed in 21 MBPP food complexes.
Additionally, MBPP recognised three of the 27 Night Market organisers for their exemplary management of night bazaars, including timely payments, absence of complaints, and organised layouts.
State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, who launched the celebration, emphasised the event’s purpose to acknowledge the contribution of the hawkers and traders to the local economic development.
“I believe that this recognition ceremony can inspire hawkers and the merchant community to continue offering a variety of food dishes.
“There is no denying that the delicious food in this state attracts local and foreign tourists to Penang. Most of the tourists come here not only to see the beauty of Penang but also to enjoy Penang’s renowned food.
“Indirectly, this hawker and trader community has contributed to one of the microeconomic sectors that generate the state’s economic development in addition to providing employment opportunities to the local population,” H’ng said in his speech.
In alignment with the Penang2030 vision, H’ng highlighted MBPP’s commitment to making Penang a clean, green, healthy and safe state.
The government’s initiatives include ongoing upgrades to public markets, with seven markets or hawker sites, already upgraded or in progress, and the construction of a new one this year.
He said MBPP would carry out an annual food premises evaluation, citing a commendable 93.8% Grade A and Grade B food premises this year, surpassing the 90% target.
He expressed hope for continued efforts to achieve Grade A in all markets, emphasising the importance of maintaining cleanliness and food safety.
Meanwhile, at the food fair held at the Esplanade, numerous stalls offered a diverse array of culinary delights. The tempting selection included a variety of beverages, fresh fruits, satay, laksa, burger, nasi goreng, nasi kambing, hot dogs, rojak and chilli pan mee.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong