DBKL shuts down four dirty eateries

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FOUR restaurants in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Cheras were forced to shut down for operating with unhygienic practices.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) ordered the three branches of Seven Seven and Wan Guan restaurant to close under the Food Establishment Licensing (WPKL) By-Law (21B) 1981 from today to conduct a thorough cleaning.

DBKL Health Department director Dr Sallehudin Abu Bakar said they were acting upon many complaints received via phone and SMS from patrons frequenting these restaurants and suffering from food poisoning later.

Unhygienic: Dr Sallehudin (right) looking at a cooking area at the back of a restaurant.

“The cleanliness of the kitchen was neglected. Raw and cooked food were stored in the same refrigerator which might cause organisms from the raw food to contaminate the cooked food that would be served later.

“Signs of pests infestation such as rats and cockroaches were found. The floors were slippery and most of the workers were neither properly attired nor medically approved for food handling.

“Some restaurants use the concept of stalls and place some stalls outside their premises. Many cook and wash dishes along the pavement taking up the pedestrian walkway which is not only unhygienic but also channels food wastes into the drain thus clogging them. All of these restaurants also did not have grease traps,” he said.

Four other restaurants in the area — Hajris Bistro, Irshat restaurant, Pappa Rich and Original Kayu Nasi Kandar, were also fined for various offences including improper arrangement of food and illegal extensions obstructing the pedestrian walkway.

“Pappa Rich has totally hoarded the pedestrian walkway by fencing the area.

“Permits can be applied to extend the dining area but it should not obstruct pedestrian walkway.

“Eggs in some of these food outlets were found to be stained with chicken droppings. When you cook half boiled eggs, you just put the eggs in the water to boil with the dropping which is very dirty,” he said.

Dr Sallehuddin said some food outlets also failed to renew their permits. The food outlets that were forced to close was to give them time to clean up and do the necessary standard requirement while those that were fined could rectify their mistake within a day.

“This is part of our weekly inspection of food outlets. Our officers will conduct checks on the premises in three days to consider pulling back the shut-down order.

Our aim is not to disrupt businesses but to encourage hygienic practices at food outlets in line with our aspiration to make Kuala Lumpur one of the top 20 liveable cities in the world by 2020,” he said.

A total of nine restaurants were inspected during the operation. The public can send their complaints on food outlets to DBKL through an SMS to 15888.