ALMOST 200 food premises in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, are at risk of not being able to renew their business licences due to unsanitary toilet conditions.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had issued the warning notices to the premises for failing to meet the clean, attractive and fragrant (bersih, menawan dan wangi) standard for their toilets.
MPAJ president Dr Ani Ahmad said those who fail to improve the facilities would face enforcement action, including not being eligible to get their business licence renewed, and possible closure.
As of Oct 31, MPAJ had inspected 750 public toilets at food premises.
Of that number, 518 toilets achieved the standard of four and five stars while 186 failed to meet the criteria and were issued licence cancellation notices in November.
Ani said the second phase, involving 46 public toilets, will start in December.
“Our Enforcement Department and Health and Environment Department are continuously carrying out enforcement action related to public toilets that fail to meet the set standards,” she said during the council’s full board meeting at Menara MPAJ.
A total of 58 compounds were issued under the Food Establishment Licensing (MPAJ) 2007 By-laws to eateries for allowing toilets to remain dirty or failing to provide complete toilet facilities.
“To achieve the high-rated standards for council-owned public toilets, repair works have been carried out at the toilets of five food courts − Anjung Melawati, Bandar Baru Ampang, Taman Keramat AU5, Taman Keramat AU2 (Felda) and Laman Niaga Ampang Waterfront.
“Meanwhile, five public toilets at build-operate-transfer (BOT) stalls, including those in Bandar Baru Ampang, Taman Cahaya, Taman Lembah Maju and Taman Putra Sulaiman, have also undergone upgrades,” said Ani.
She added that repair works would continue for other council-owned public toilets.
Last year, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said food and beverage premises nationwide might not be able to renew their business licences from city councils should their toilets failed to achieve the “A” certification standard.
He had said the requirement for the “A” rating would be expanded to municipal councils in 2025 and district councils in 2026.
