Lifting of 2-week closure notice on eatery follows standard procedures under Health Ministry

The reopening of a fast food outlet at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce here follows the standard procedures outlined by the Health Ministry as far as compliance with hygiene and food safety is concerned.

In pointing this out, state Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim said the Health team conducted a follow-up inspection on the outlet on Thursday, where they found satisfactory improvement from the first check done the day before.

According to her, the operator of the fast food outlet had applied to the authority, in writing, for a re-inspection on Thursday, stating that the premises had undergone thorough clean-up as ordered by the team from the  divisional Health Office on Wednesday.

“On Dec 14, the Health team inspected the premises and found that all requirements under the cleaning-up order had been adhered to, and that the Health officers were satisfied with the actions taken by the operator.

“As such, the operator was allowed to reopen the premises. This is the standard procedure outlined by the Health Ministry in ordering closure for and allowing reopening of food premises,” she said in a statement yesterday, released in response to media enquiries.

On Wednesday, the popular fast food restaurant was given a closure notice under Section 11 of Food Act 1983, after Health officials found that its level of hygiene and cleanliness was less than satisfactory.

In an earlier statement, Dr Jamilah said the inspection was part of the routine work undertaken by the divisional Health Office.

As a result from the unsatisfactory finding from the inspection, the restaurant was ordered to close for two weeks to allow the operator undertake the necessary clean-up.

However, it reopened for business at 1pm on Thursday.

On the two-week closure notice, Dr Jamilah pointed out that the issuance of such notice ‘is a standard procedure’ when it comes to dealing with food premises that are unhygienic.

However, she said such notice does not mean that a re-inspection cannot be conducted within that period – the operator concerned could appeal to the authorities for an early re-inspection.

“When a food premises is served with a temporary closure notice due to hygiene factors, two weeks are given to enable the operator to do the necessary clean-up, as per recommended by the Health inspectors.

“If the operator appeals for a re-inspection after having duly completed the cleaning process, and the Health officers find the outcome satisfactory, then the premises would be permitted to operate again – even before the two-week period expires.

“The two-week period is standard, but the re-inspection can be done early as long as the (operator of the) food premises concerned is fully committed to taking the necessary actions to rectify the situation,” she said.

Dr Jamilah stressed that only operators who have complied with all the set requirements and instructions during the re-inspection would be allowed to re-open their premises as usual.

“Should the Health inspectors find any non-compliance and the requirements not met satisfactorily, then the 14-day closure would resume,” she explained.

In this regard, Dr Jamilah said the fast food restaurant at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce had complied with the requirements under Section 11 of Food Act 1983 upon re-inspection.

The fast food restaurant’s closure-reopening drama has become a talking point among Netizens across various social media, many of which the photo that depicts the closure notice placed on the outlet’s door.

At a press conference yesterday, special assistant to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Dr Kelvin Yii, demanded the authorities to explain why the fast food restaurant was allowed to operate in just a day after the two-week notice took effect.

He also questioned about suspected abuse of power, as far as the speedy reopening of the outlet was concerned.

It is made known that political secretary to chief minister Tan Kai was photographed during a meeting with the restaurant owner and the authorities on Wednesday.

In this regard, Dr Yii also questioned the need for Tan – also Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth chief – to be present at the meeting.

“In what capacity was Tan Kai acting (then), being present at the meeting between the owner of the premises and officers from the Health Ministry?

“In haste to reopen the business one day after the notice (took effect), what has the owner of the premises done to rectify his premises that it has satisfied the criteria required by the Health Ministry?” Dr Yii was quoted as having said yesterday.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Lim How Pim

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