Between January and April, 177 food premises in Penang were ordered to close temporarily for failing to comply with food hygiene and safety requirements.
Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (pic) said the closures were ordered after 4,069 eateries were inspected by the Penang Health Department, with nearly 70% of the closure orders linked to pest infestations.
He said the inspections were conducted through 204 enforcement operations across all five districts in the state, as well as follow-up investigations arising from public complaints.
“The 177 premises were closed temporarily to allow cleaning, corrective measures and improvement works.
“Of these, 122 premises (68.9%) were cited for pest control issues involving rodents and cockroaches among others.
“Another 49 premises (27.7%) were found to have unsatisfactory cleanliness levels, while six premises (3.4%) were linked to food poisoning,” he said in a press conference at Komtar.
Gooi said enforcement officers also issued 1,771 notices under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983 for various offences involving food handling, cleanliness and food safety compliance.
Addressing concerns over compliance among food handlers, he said only seven offences involved failures to comply with typhoid vaccination requirements.
Gooi said the state government’s aim was to encourage better hygiene and food safety practices.
“The enforcement action serves as a corrective measure to help operators identify weaknesses, improve cleanliness standards and ensure food is prepared in a safe environment.”
He said all enforcement actions were carried out in accordance with procedures and legal provisions under the Food Act 1983, with no exceptions given to any category of food establishment, including those at government facilities.
Gooi also revealed that the Penang Health Department received 241 complaints involving food premises between January and April, with the majority related to cleanliness issues.
Of these, 185 complaints involved cleanliness issues at restaurants and eateries.
Those who encounter hygiene-related issues at food premises are encouraged to submit complaints through the Public Complaints Management System (Sispaa), with supporting information such as photographs to facilitate investigations.
