‘Fake’ rice sample collected, set for lab test in Johor— Dept
SIBU: The Health Department has obtained a sample of the ‘fake’ rice allegedly being sold here, and is sending it to a laboratory in Johor Bahru today for testing.
Sarawak Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim said the sample was obtained from one of the complainants, but added that it would take some time for the lab result to be known.
“( Sibu Division Health officer) Dr Lee (Jo Hun) contacted the complainant concerned and collected the rice sample suspected to be fake to be sent to the laboratory in Johor tomorrow ( Nov 12).
“In this regard, before that (the outcome of the results is known), we are unsure whether it is fake or genuine rice. It will take a bit of time for the results to be out,” she said in a press conference held after attending ‘GotongRoyong Mega Sarawak 2.0’ event to combat Aedes and dengue at Farley Commercial Centre here yesterday.
On whether the department received any report concerning the ‘fake’ rice, Dr Jamilah said the matter only caught its attention after it was highlighted in the media.
“Actually, the Health Department did not receive specific report; nobody made any report that there was (suspected) ‘ fake’ rice. We got to know about this from The Borneo Post – the media.”
Dr Jamilah said although she was unclear on what brand of rice was, she advised the public not to purchase something that is being offered at an ‘unrealistically’ low price.
“If you are suspicious of a product, report to the Health Department or other relevant agencies so that an investigation can be carried out,” she added, pointing out that consumption of ‘ fake’ food could adversely affect one’s health.
The matter came to light last week after two members of the public discovered that the rice they had cooked turned into a weird consistency, which did not resemble that of normal cooked rice.
One of them said the cooked rice ‘ tasted like rice, but felt like cotton’, and that water could also be squeezed from it after it had been soaked.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Federal Secretary Datuk Mansor Man who officiated at the launch of the ‘Gotong-Royong Mega 2.0’ event, described the programme as ‘going a long way towards creating awareness among the public of dengue preventive measures’.
The event, attended by over 300 people, was run by the Health Ministry and held simultaneously across the country yesterday.
Sibu Hospital director Dr Ngian Hie Ung and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairperson Rogayah Jamain also took part.