The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has ordered a 14-day closure of the Pulau Tikus Food Court due to unsatisfactory cleanliness levels and the presence of rat droppings. This decision follows a thorough inspection conducted by the MBPP, which revealed significant violations of health and safety standards.
The inspection, involving 10 officers from the Licensing Department, focused on various areas including the kitchen, washing areas, food storage, drains, and ditches. The findings indicated that all the inspected premises had rat droppings, which led to the immediate closure order. Additionally, the operators were found to have neglected regular pest control measures and failed to clean oil traps, resulting in drainage issues and public drain blockages.
The food court operators are required to comply with MBPP’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) and meet satisfactory cleanliness criteria before they can appeal for a re-inspection and resume operations. This stringent measure is part of the council’s efforts to ensure public health and safety.
This is not the first instance of food premises in Penang facing closure due to hygiene issues. Recently, three eateries around Tanjung Bungah were also shut down for 14 days due to similar violations, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining cleanliness standards in the food industry.
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