Quality control: Dr Rose (second left) inspecting one of the stalls at the Ramadan bazaar in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 30 items are set to be gazetted under the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) throughout the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said the matter will be discussed comprehensively with all industry players, especially those involved in the supply of raw materials, controlled goods and essential items.
He said it has also been suggested that the SHMPP implementation period is from seven days before, two days during and seven days after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, adding that it will be announced next week.
“This is to enable the community to spend to celebrate Aidilfitri later,” he said when winding up the debate on the Royal Address at Dewan Negara yesterday.
Previously, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) had gazetted a total of eight types of goods for the implementation of the SHMMP for Chinese New Year from Jan 15-29, 2023.
Meanwhile in Kota Kinabalu, it was reported that some 700 health personnel have been mobilised to inspect and monitor Ramadan bazaars throughout Sabah until the end of the fasting month.
State health director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin said this was to ensure such bazaars only sold food that was safe for consumption.
Dr Rose said her staff members have so far checked 277 stalls in bazaars in five districts namely Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Tawau, Sandakan and Kudat since March 27.
“Following the checks, we have issued 21 compound notices to food operators under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983,” she told reporters after visiting the Ramadan bazaar at Lintasan Deasoka here yesterday.
“Most of the notices were for offences such as not wearing aprons, long finger nails, absence of food handlers certification and no typhoid vaccine injection, among others.
“We have also taken four food samples for testing previously and will also be taking further samples at this bazaar today (yesterday),” she said.
“This is a routine to ensure there is no food contamination. We send the samples to the lab for testing and the results will come back in five days,” she added.
Dr Rose said the 21 compound notices were mostly reminders for hawkers to follow the rules although some were issued with heavier fines.
“But it doesn’t necessarily have to be a RM100 compound because (if an offence was found) we will launch an investigation and assess the penalty.
“Ultimately, what’s important is cleanliness and food hygiene,” she said.
It was reported on Monday that nine Ramadan stall operators were handed compound notices of RM100 each for various health violations at bazaars in Sabah’s east coast Sandakan district.
Sandakan health officer Dr Johari Awang Besar said among the offences committed were not having typhoid injection health cards for their workers, the absence of food handler certificates and failure to ensure cleanliness at their respective stalls.
