VIDEO OF RAT FEASTING IN CANTEEN GOES VIRAL

Rodent was seen helping itself to cabbage supposedly at a hospital cafeteria

AVIDEO clip of a rat casually helping itself to a piece of cabbage from a buffet food counter, allegedly at a hospital canteen here, went viral on social media recently.

Several hospital names were bandied about, including healthcare facilities in Seremban and Penang, but claims have been made that the video was taken at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR).

Following the surfacing of the 32-second clip, the management of HTAR launched an internal inquiry to ascertain the authenticity of the footage and when the incident occurred.

HTAR director Dr Ding Lay Ming said the matter was brought to their attention yesterday morning.

“The hospital management immediately ordered an internal investigation.

“So far, we have yet to confirm the video was taken at the HTAR canteen.

Dr Ding said the hospital had instructed the canteen operator to temporarily close and carry out clean-up operations as a precautionary measure, adding that, however, it had yet to be ascertained whether the video was of HTAR.

The video shows the rat, seemingly unafraid of the smartphone video-taker, at the food counter, reaching into a tray and pulling out a piece of cabbage.

Without scurrying away, the rat casually chews the leaf next to the food tray as the video-taker continues recording the footage.

The phone occasionally pans right to reveal other parts of the canteen and patrons there.

However, the video clip, which went viral on WhatsApp, does not bear a time stamp, nor does it show signage indicating the name of the food outlet.

A text message accompanying the video claims that it was taken at “Klang G. Hospital” (Klang General Hospital).