Popular popiah stall shuttered over hygiene issues

MELAKA: A popiah stall here, known for its large servings, has been hit with a 14-day closure order by the state Health Department due to unhygienic practices.

This included the discovery of rat droppings, according to Melaka health, human resources and unity committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem.

He said the order was issued by enforcement officers following an operation on Friday.

The popiah stall was found to have violated the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 and failed to maintain food safety procedures, he told reporters after a separate operation to check on compliance with smoking regulations on Friday.

The stall is well-known among locals and out-of-towners, and often has long queues.

Ngwe said the operation involved the inspection of 24 eateries and the issuance of 55 compound notices, totalling approximately RM16,000.

“In addition to the popiah stall, two other food operators were also ordered to close under Section 11 of the Food Act,” he said.

On Friday, several regular customers of the popiah stall contacted The Star, voicing their unhappiness with the situation.

Some of them even theorised that the closure was caused by its business rivals.

But Ngwe explained later that the action taken was not due to complaints from others.

On the anti-smoking operation, Ngwe said 1,638 premises throughout the state were inspected, adding that there had been 42 operations throughout the state since January, involving 58 enforcement officers.