Tho Unhygienic food eateries closed

Two unhygienic food eateries closed

by Jacqueline Raphael 
September 18, 2010, Saturday

Reference: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=68760

MIRI: Two eateries in the city were yesterday partially closed following the launch of ‘Ops Patuh 3 (Bersih)’ carried out by Miri City Council (MCC) in collaboration with the Health Department.

ACTING TOUGH: Medical and MCC enforcement officers inspect a shop which was partially closed.

The shops are at Mosjaya Commercial Centre and Pelita Commercial Centre.

The unhygienic parts of the shops were closed to the public after they were inspected by the enforcement team.

A total of seven food shops which were warned by MCC before Hari Raya Aidilfitri due to poor hygiene were inspected during yesterday’s operation.

“More than 100 notices were issued prior to the operation and we have given the shop operators time to improve the cleanliness of their premises.

“Today, we are not issuing anymore warnings. The operators should not have any excuse that they were not informed earlier about our operation,” said mayor Lawrence Lai while officiating at the launching ceremony of the operation at MCC multi-storey car park yesterday.

He said the council would not compromise with any food shop operator when it comes to cleanliness because poor hygiene would tarnish the image of the city as adversely affect the peoples’ health.

“We are very serious about this and we will issue compounds to offenders.

“Unhygienic eateries deserve to be fined. There is no bias when carry out our enforcement operations,” he said.

He added that ‘Ops Patuh 3’ focused on back lanes which some irresponsible food shop operators use to illegally ‘expand’ their kitchen.

“The back lanes are for the public. It should not be blocked by food shop operators for their own use.

“This is very bad because at some places the public cannot pass through because the roads behind are blocked,” he said.

Medical officers from the Health Department who took part in the operation also inspected the interior of the premises. Some food shop operators were compounded for using illegal colouring in their food and drinks as well as for poor hygiene.

“We hope the operation would have positive impact on our city. We want all eateries to comply with the law on cleanliness.

“We want to clean up every corner of this city and we will do it without fear and favour,” said Lai.