Ipoh, it’s time to ‘shine’, says mayor

IPOH: With the expected increase in the arrival of domestic and foreign tourists here in line with Visit Ipoh Year 2023, operators of food premises have been urged to maintain the highest level of cleanliness or face legal action.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said enforcement action would be taken to further improve the cleanliness of food outlets in the city.

“The Ipoh City Council (MBI) has stepped up its monitoring activities to ensure the level of cleanliness of premises, places where food is prepared, and public toilets.

“We will step up enforcement activities every day. If it is necessary to take the case to court, we will do so to ensure owners of the premises comply with the cleanliness regulations,” he told Bernama after an MBI council meeting here yesterday.

Rumaizi said food hygiene and safety would continue to be monitored by MBI to ensure food served and sold to customers and tourists was safe to eat.

He said 429 compound notices involving fines of RM78,300 were issued to food shop operators in the city last year.

Last Dec 31, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad launched Visit Ipoh Year 2023 in an effort to showcase Ipoh as one of the must-visit holiday destinations in the country.