A Member of Parliament (MP) in Penang has accused the City Council of Penang Island (MBPP) of alleged double standards by failing to take prompt action against a popular eatery for poor hygiene standards.
The lengthy Facebook post was penned by Batu Uban MP Kumaresan Aramugam, who described in detail what transpired and the lack of enforcement which followed after.
Customer finds roach leg in food
According to Kumaresan, he wrote that one of his staff went to the eatery located at Lorong Pitt on Mar 14 for a meal and was shocked to find a cockroach leg inside their food.
He alleged that although a complaint was made to the restaurant staff, it was completely ignored and no apology was offered.
“My staff later informed me of the incident, and I advised him to lodge an official complaint with MBPP and the health authorities,” he wrote.
‘Why is it still allowed to be open?’
Kumaresan claimed that to this day, no action had been taken against the eatery except for a routine hygiene inspection.
“The authorities said the restaurant’s level of cleanliness was satisfactory and therefore no further action could be taken.
“This raises the question: why was no compound issued, and why was the restaurant not ordered to close?”
Kumaresan slammed the authorities for being harsh towards smaller vendors when it came to health violations, but letting “bigger fishes” off the hook for similar offences.
“If such an offence had been committed by a small stall, it is highly likely that the premises would have been ordered to close for 14 days.
“But when a member of the public lodges a complaint complete with photographic evidence, why has no action been taken against the restaurant owner?
Does the law only apply to small traders and those without influence?”
Kumaresan reiterated that he wasn’t trying to stir controversy on social media, but was merely speaking on behalf of his staff and the public when it comes to hygiene matters.
READ ALSO:
