Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
THREE coffee shops in Penang Road were ordered to close for two weeks after a joint inspection by a team of health personnel from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the state Health Department today.
Rat droppings were found in three of the six eateries inspected today.
MBPP senior health officer Goh Eng Chun, who led the operation together with state Health Department senior assistant environmental officer S. Patmanathan, said a total of 10 compounds were issued to all six eateries.
“We want to ensure that the food is safe and clean for consumers. Many tourists also come to Penang. This is the third joint operation between the Ministry of Health and the MBPP since July 12. We’re working very closely together,” Goh said.
“In today’s exercise, we found a high infestation of rat droppings. The 10 compounds issued were for various offences involving cleanliness.”
A compound of RM250 was issued to one eatery for discharging waste into the drain, while the remaining nine compounds were RM100 each.
Of the three coffee shops closed, two were ordered to pull down their shutters from 2pm, while the third, considered the “worst offender”, had to do so immediately at noon as rat droppings were found on the floor and table, while the kitchen was in a mess.
It is learnt that the third coffee shop, owned by a local but rented out to a Bangladeshi, would be closed for two weeks at least.
The first two are given a chance to appeal after three days. One of them was also penalised for placing ice blocks together with chicken meat in the refrigerator. The ice blocks were meant for making ice-kacang.
“Our purpose is to make sure all eateries are clean. This is a long exercise, starting with the town area. We are now conducting weekly checks instead of fortnightly,” said Goh, who added that MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and state Health Department director Datuk Dr Wan Mansor Hamzan are serious in continuing the exercise.
Today’s operation was conducted by 12 health personnel from MBPP, including two enforcement officers, and eight from the state Health Department.
In a similar exercise last week, five outlets in Market Street were ordered closed for two weeks.
