Personnel from MPAJ’s Health and Environment as well as Enforcement departments conducting toilet inspections at Pandan Indah eateries.
RESTAURANT owners in the Ampang Jaya municipality, Selangor, will need to keep their toilets sparkling clean if they want to continue operating next year.
Restaurant premises in Ampang Jaya and nationwide may not be eligible to get their business licence renewed if their toilets do not achieve the “A” certification standard, as previously announced by Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT).
With this in mind, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is ramping up operations to ensure that the toilets in food premises are clean, attractive and fragrant (bersih, menawan dan wangi or “BMW”).
MPAJ, in a media statement, said it had identified 816 eateries with toilet facilities within the municipality.
“During an operation on July 24, 12 premises were inspected in Pandan Indah.
“Of those that were inspected, two were issued compounds for failing to ensure the toilets were clean,” said MPAJ.
Compounds were issued under Food Establishment Licensing (MPAJ) 2007 By-laws.
“Starting 2025, KPKT has set the condition that all public toilets in food premises within local council areas must have a 4 or 5-star rating and achieve “BMW” standards before the premises’ licence can be renewed.
“These standards are outlined in the Guidelines for Management and Star Rating of Public Toilets in Malaysia 2024.”
The criteria considered for the toilet rating include toilet bowls that are functional, clean and undamaged; clean and unclogged drainage; covered, clean and undamaged rubbish bins, and sufficient liquid soap, among others.
As part of its effort to encourage clean and well-functioning toilets, MPAJ had organised a toilet competition last year for public toilets.
It also aimed to encourage the people to prioritise public toilet cleanliness, thereby supporting the KPKT initiative.
The categories contested in the MPAJ Toilet Competition 2023 were schools, shopping centres, restaurants/food courts, petrol stations and places of worship.
“Owners of food premises are reminded to always comply with business licence conditions, including the guidelines for public toilets so that they can renew their business licences for the following year.”
Last year, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said food and beverage premises nationwide might fail to get their business licences from city councils should they fail to achieve the “A” certification standard.
He said the requirement for the “A” rating would be expanded to municipal councils in 2025 and district councils in 2026.
