Ramadan bazaar applicants at MBPJ’s lot-drawing event and briefing. — ART CHEN/The Star
FOOD vendors at this year’s Ramadan bazaars in Kelana Jaya and Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, have been told to segregate food waste.
This was conveyed during a briefing session for Ramadan bazaar vendors at Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) by the council’s sustainability partner, Eco Lestari Strategy.
Eco Lestari Strategy spokesperson Siti Nasuha Jebat said while it was not mandatory, the move was to prevent more waste going to landfills.
“We’ve found that the majority of food waste was generated by vendors,” said Siti, referring to waste such as vegetable scraps, bones or extracted sugar cane.
At both bazaar locations, she said bins would be provided for vendors to separate compostable from non-compostable food waste, adding that there were also plans to educate bazaar visitors.
She said visitors who participate in quizzes on environmental sustainability stand to receive prizes.
MBPJ Licensing, Business Development and Entrepreneur Department director Sharinaz Samsudin instructed vendors to stop using polystyrene packaging.
“The price for eco-friendly packaging has become more affordable,” she said.
“We are striving to be environmentally friendly, so polystyrene is strictly not allowed.”
She said vendors must comply with all the licensing guidelines including having certification for typhoid shots and practising proper hygiene by wearing aprons and head coverings.
“Last year, there were 191 cases of traders not having typhoid vaccination certifications while 196 traders did not don the proper attire when handling food.”
Sharinaz added that while MBPJ has not mandated the wearing of face masks for food handlers, vendors were highly encouraged to use them.
This year, the council has identified 18 locations for Ramadan bazaars around the city, with 1,260 slots and 1,108 applicants.
Based on the number of applications, the most popular locations were SS 6/1 in Kelana Jaya (228 applications for 208 lots), Apartment Vista Business Centre Damansara Damai (164 applicants for 160 lots), Taman Medan PJS 2/3 (139 applicants for 127 lots) and Section 4 in Kota Damansara (173 applicants for 100 lots).
During the lot drawing event for vendors after the briefing, Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Aznan Hassan said that 88% of lots had been allotted.
“It is an 18% increase from the previous year’s Petaling Jaya Ramadan bazaar,” he said, adding that all vendors would continue to use cashless payment systems.
Aznan said MBPJ would dispatch 100 officers to ensure the safety of visitors and food hygiene throughout the month of Ramadan.
Digital coupons worth RM15 each will also be given to visitors who use reusable bags at MBPJ Ramadan bazaar locations.
