PENANG aims to have all public markets and public eating premises to attain Grade A or Grade B cleanliness by February next year.
State Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh told reporters today he would direct both Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) to come up with an action plan on cleanliness for public markets and public eating premises.
“No more Grade C rating by February next year. We want to go forward with both MBPP and MPSP having the same mission. We want to lead by example,” Jagdeep said, adding that action would continue to be taken against private eateries until they also follow suit.
Jagdeep said there are 30 public markets and 66 public eating premises in Seberang Perai and a total of 48 such facilities on Penang island.
Jagdeep was speaking after officiating the three-day MPSP councillors’ induction course at the Bayview Beach Hotel in Batu Ferringhi today.
He said it was a good move by MPSP itself to set February next year to achieve the Grade A or Grade B cleanliness target and called on MBPP to do likewise.
MPSP president Datuk Rozali Mohamud, who was given an extension of his service from Aug 16, 2018 to Dec 31, 2019 after having just retired, said they were not satisfied with the results of the cleanliness campaign that started since 2010.
“We then had four ratings – Grade A, B, C and D. There were some very dirty outlets which got Grade D. But by 2017, there was no more Grade D. Grade A and B made up 38.9% whereas Grade C had 61.6%. We’re not satisfied with the statistics. That’s why we want to go for just Grade A and B by February next year,” said Rozali.
All MPSP councillors are also drafted into the task force to assist officers by giving advice on cleanliness when they visit market places and eateries.
Jagdeep said both MBPP and MPSP would work in tandem with the Health Department as the local authorities have only the power to issue compounds whereas the department has the power to close dirty outlets.
MBPP and the state Health Department have in recent times also stepped up its cleanliness campaign by making sudden checks on eateries and taking the necessary action to show that they mean business.
Story by K.H. Ong