TWO restaurants in Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur, have been ordered to close by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) because the food premises did not meet hygiene standards during a routine night inspection.

The restaurants that were ordered to close under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 were Restoran TKS and Ban Mi Bread.

Rat droppings were found in one of the eateries and DBKL Health Department officers issued the closure notice which took effect yesterday.

The restaurant owners must clean up the premises and if subsequent checks by DBKL prove satisfactory, the restaurants would be reopened.

About 40 officers went on inspection rounds and checked 36 restaurants along the tourist-filled street.

A total of 21 compounds were issued.

Among the offences were not properly connecting the grease trap to the sink and food handlers seen without an apron or a hat.

DBKL Health and Environment Department deputy director Chandrakant Patel said the inspection covered restaurants that operate at night.

“We have a large-scale night inspection monthly and our officers from different constituencies have frequent checks in their area.

“They will also act on complaints of dirty eateries by doing ad hoc inspections in their respective areas,” he said after the inspections ended.

Patel said most restaurants were manned by foreigners and there was a communication problem between the foreign workers and his officers.

“For most of the restaurants, the owners are not around and it is difficult for us to engage with them.

"The restaurant owners need to be around during operational hours, so that they know what is happening in their restaurant,” he said.

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