Foreign hawker operated 'Bakso Mas' illegally – Mayor
KOTA KINABALU: While viral sharing of posts on social media could boost the business of some, it had been the complete opposite for the famous ‘Bakso Mas' who had been operating his small ‘bakso' business near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital I here for years.
Following a post on Facebook complimenting the savory taste of his ‘bakso' - Indonesian meatball noodle soup - which quickly went viral as shared by numerous loyal fans and wouldbe visitors alike beginning last week, posts on the confiscation of his mobile stall, which he operated from his bicycle, also drew quick reaction from netizens starting Tuesday.
Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai explained that action was taken against the operator as he was operating without license, proper sanitation and on a nonpermitted location.
Yeo disclosed that the operator, whose business is known as ‘Bakso Mas', had come to see him to ask for his confiscated equipment to be returned.
“A thousand apologies, but it is our duty to stop illegal hawking. Rules are there for a reason. We will not do anything outside the context of the law. I hope those who criticize us understand this.
“By right, food business should be conducted in a hygienic and safe condition. This person did not even have a proper place to wash or clean. That is why we took action,” said Yeo.
He added that warnings to the same operator had previously been issued numerous times.
Asked whether there was a possibility for the operator to apply for a mobile hawker license, Yeo replied in the negative as the operator is not a citizen of the country.
“There are conditions under which we will be able to issue such a license, but unfortunately, we've checked and found that the operator involved is not a citizen,” he said, when met after launching a food waste separation programme at Damai, near here yesterday.
On Tuesday, news on ‘ Mas Bakso' business foreclosure broke after netizens shared the posts on Facebook, mostly condemning the move while raising the possibility of complaints by jealous competitors that led to the confiscation by the authority.