09/06/2025

MONDAY | JUNE 9, 2025

FOLLOW

ON FACEBOOK

4

Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Poor hygiene blamed for rise in foodborne illnesses

Penang to review 5% housing discount for

Indian Muslims GEORGE TOWN: The state executive council here will review the 5% offer for first-time homebuyers from the Indian Muslim community and make a decision that benefits all parties. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he had directed State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo to refine the policy with developers to ensure the discount is extended to all buyers. He said the aim is to make the policy more inclusive and aligned with the principles of social justice. “The state government has received various feedback regarding the announcement of the intervention measure to provide a five per cent discount to the Indian Muslim community for the purchase of unsold (overhang) property units, as announced by the State Housing and Environment Committee chairman on June 5. “Some of the feedback and views received suggest that the discount should be offered to all buyers to stimulate the property sector, particularly the sale of unsold properties or units,” he said in a statement yesterday. On Thursday, Sundarajoo announced a 5% for the Indian Muslim community on the purchase of residential and commercial units under the Madani Inclusive Property Sector Catalyst Policy. The incentive, part of several measures under the policy, takes effect from June 1 this year until May 31, 2026. Other measures include the introduction of a special category, Rumah MutiaraKu (RMKu) Type D, with a ceiling price of RM400,000, and a reduction in contribution rates for developers who do not physically provide RMKu Type A or B units. The policy is an intervention designed to revitalise the property sector following discussions with housing industry stakeholders and in response to the growing oversupply of non-affordable units in Penang. According to the Penang Property Market Report for the fourth quarter of 2024, issued by the National Property Information Centre, a total of 2,796 residential units remain unsold across the state. – Bernama IPOH: Two Brahman cows were slaughtered during the sacrificial ritual of the Malaysia Madani Sekampung programme, organised by the Perak Veterinary Services Department (VSD) at Masjid Rahmaniah, Kampung Padang Changkat in Bota Kanan yesterday. VSD director-general Dr Akma Ngah Hamid said the programme aimed to engage and honour villagers in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha. It was also held concurrently in Kampung Selat and Kampung Baru in the Bota Kanan area. “It is an ideal platform for the local community to uphold harmony and unity, in line with the Malaysia Madani concept,” she said in a statement. This year’s sacrificial ritual involved a nationwide supply of 34,451 cattle and buffaloes and 22,453 goats and sheep. – Bernama Initiative unites villagers in Aidiladha ritual

o Inconsistent practices among food handlers and low awareness fuelling preventable outbreaks across Malaysia

regular refresher courses.” Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said Malaysia largely aligns with WHO food safety standards, supported by surveillance systems, online reporting tools and training for vendors. She said the Food Safety and Quality Division oversees national safety efforts, including monitoring foodborne illnesses and antimicrobial resistance in partnership with other agencies, academic institutions and industry players. “These efforts include training programmes and implementation of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system in food service settings. “Food and waterborne diseases, including food poisoning, are notifiable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act. They are addressed through prevention, screening and proper management practices.” Sharifa said foodborne illnesses in Malaysia are widespread and caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins or foreign objects in food. Symptoms typically include diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, posing higher risks to children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. She added that contamination does not only stem from food but could also occur through unsafe water, animal contact or poor personal hygiene. WHO estimates that 1.6 million people globally fall ill each day due to unsafe food. In Malaysia, foodborne illnesses remain a serious concern. Last year, several notable outbreaks occurred, including 65 students falling ill in Kedah, two fatalities in Selangor, about 100 affected in Johor and a typhoid outbreak involving 10 students in Kelantan.

where food is prepared for immediate public consumption.” Noor Azira added that inspection frequency could be tailored based on past hygiene performance, with stricter oversight for businesses that have previously failed to comply. She also expressed concern over smaller vendors and roadside stalls, which often operate with limited oversight. “Small food vendors and stalls are often more vulnerable to food safety lapses as they may not receive proper food safety training and less frequent inspections. “Their working conditions, such as exposure to pests, pollution, limited clean water and poor waste disposal, raise contamination risks, while many staff lack proper food hygiene knowledge due to insufficient training or certification.” While many food handlers in Malaysia understand basic hygiene principles, Noor Azira said applying them consistently remains a challenge, particularly in informal settings. “Some food handlers often feel pressured to prepare food quickly while maintaining cleanliness, and long working hours can cause fatigue, reducing their motivation to follow proper hygiene practices.” She said Malaysia has a solid foundation for food safety training, with the Health Ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Division leading initiatives such as the free BESS (Bersih, Selamat, Sihat) certification scheme to help ensure safe food preparation. “However, the main issue is getting food handlers to consistently apply what they’ve learnt. Training should be improved to cover areas such as allergen management, food fraud, digital monitoring and pest control. “It must also cater to street vendors, cloud kitchens and home-based operators, be available in multiple languages and include

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Food safety experts warn that poor hygiene in food preparation, such as using dirty chopping boards, can contribute to the spread of foodborne illnesses, which affect over a million people globally each day. They stress that food handlers play a vital role in preventing such outbreaks, provided hygiene protocols are strictly followed. Universiti Putra Malaysia food safety expert Dr Noor Azira Abdul Mutalib said consistent hygiene practices among food handlers are critical to reducing the 1.6 million daily cases of foodborne diseases reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). “The most crucial step in reducing the global burden of foodborne illnesses starts with food handlers themselves. It’s essential that they not only understand food safety protocols but also apply them consistently in their daily operations,” she said. She called for more rigorous and frequent audits, particularly in public food establishments, due to the potential health risks involved. “Food safety inspections must be carried out more stringently, especially in establishments Group chief operations executive (operations) Amir Hamdan said 11 of the new zones will be accessible via the Rapid On-Demand app. The zones include MRT Semantan–KTM Segambut, MRT Bukit Dukung–Sungai Sekamat, MRT Sungai Buloh–Bandar Rahman Putra, MRT Serdang Raya Selatan–Taman Bukit Serdang, MRT Metro Prima–Taman Botani Kepong, MRT Kentonmen–Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre, MRT Sungai Jernih–Taman Puncak Saujana, MRT Serdang Raya Utara– Pavilion Bukit Jalil, MRT Taman Equine–Lestari Perdana, MRT Metro Prima–Taman Bukit Maluri and MRT Sri Delima–Sri Segambut. The remaining two zones, Kota Kemuning– Gamuda Walk Mall and LRT Alam Megah–Alam Megah, are available for booking on the Kummute app. Amir said the new Rapid On-Demand app aims to simplify the booking process and enhance the overall user experience. “With this innovation, that emphasises sustainability, responsiveness and user friendliness, we aim to make public transport the main choice of residents in the Klang Valley,” he said in a statement on Saturday. Rapid KL On-Demand services now cover 47 zones and are available daily from 6am to 11.30pm at a promotional fare of RM1 per trip. Further details are available on Rapid KL’s official social media platforms or at www.myrapid.com.my. – Bernama

Rapid KL On-Demand introduces 13 new zones KUALA LUMPUR: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd is introducing 13 new zones under its Rapid KL On-Demand service, along with a new booking app – Rapid On-Demand, starting today.

Rapid KL On-Demand services now cover 47 zones and are available daily from 6am to 11.30pm at a promotional fare of RM1 per trip. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN