‘Hit dirty eateries hard’

Consumer group, rep urge councils to increase fines for flouting hygiene rules

GEORGE TOWN: Hit them where it hurts most – in their pockets – and they will be forced to maintain cleanliness and hygiene levels.

This is the view of a consumer association and an assemblyman who have called for harsher penalties on eateries and restaurants found to be dirty in Penang.

They want the two local councils – the Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Perai City Council – to impose a minimum fine of RM2,500 instead of the current RM50 to RM200 for flouting hygiene standards.

With the Covid-19 outbreak around the world, there is a pressing need to embark on a widespread cleanliness campaign throughout Penang, said Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee.

“The fine of RM50 to RM250 is simply too small,” Ong said.

Instead, the Penang PKR vice-chairman urged local authorities to increase the compounds so it can be an effective deterrent.

If there are repeat offenders, the state must also revoke their permits, he added.

Ong was responding to reports that two popular nasi kandar outlets were issued compounds and one ordered to close after they were found to have, among other things, rat droppings and a dead carcass within their premises.

Penang is universally regarded as the birthplace of nasi kandar but hygiene levels should be improved in line with the taste and quality of the food, Ong added.

Penang Consumer Protection Association president Datuk K. Koris Atan said many restaurants in Penang were making money because the state had grown in stature as the food capital of the country.

They can easily improve cleanliness levels if they want to, he said.

Koris also wants the local authorities to step up efforts by inspecting all eateries once every month to ensure cleanliness levels are maintained.

“The issue of cleanliness has smeared our reputation. Now is the time to clearly enforce the regulations. We should not compromise.”

Commenting on the matter, a Seberang Perai council spokesman said the council will take heed of the suggestions by the consumer group and the assemblyman.

“We will convene a meeting soon with our licensing division,” he added.