MELAKA: The dining hall and cafeteria at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Terendak Camp in Sungai Udang here has been ordered closed for 14 days effective Friday, following the discovery of rat droppings on the floor.
State health, human resources and unity committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said the action was taken for necessary cleaning and corrective measures, with both premises fined RM1,000.
“In addition to hygiene concerns due to evidence of rat presence, the dining hall and cafeteria were closed because the refrigerator used did not meet set standards.
“The cooperative involved has also been instructed to suspend the sale of takeaway food from external suppliers until the district health office completes its investigation,” he said when contacted yesterday, Bernama reported.
Friday’s measure was taken by the Melaka Health Department under the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Act 1988 and the Food Act 1983.
The Health Ministry has also recommended several catering options from its list to provide meals for the 663 students at the college during the closure.
Earlier on Friday, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki had conducted a surprise visit to MRSM Terendak after receiving reports that 48 students were experiencing stomach pain, believed to be due to food poisoning.
Eight of the students were treated in hospital and later discharged.
He noted that preliminary investigations had revealed the MRSM kitchen was filthy and poorly maintained, with rat droppings present, leading the district health office to issue fines for the violations.
Asyraf Wajdi has described MRSM Terendak as the most dilapidated educational institution under the purview of Mara, RSN MURALI reports.
The Mara chairman cited issues such as the condition of the toilets and teachers’ rooms as “terrible”.
“MRSM Terendak Camp is the worst among the 39 out of 57 MRSM (colleges) that I have visited.
“Such conditions shouldn’t exist in an institution that has 663 students. I have instructed the principal to compile a list of dilapidated facilities within a month.
“We have approved a RM400,000 emergency fund for remedial measures,” he said after the opening of the TVET Expo by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Ayer Keroh, Melaka, on Friday.
The incident at MRSM Terendak follows the recent case at another MRSM, where unsanitary conditions at the cafeteria allegedly led to food poisoning among students.
It was reported that Asyraf Wajdi had confronted the contractor after inspecting the cafeteria at MRSM Taiping in Perak.
He was said to have found lizard droppings and rats at the premises and even maggots in the students’ meals during his inspection.
Asyraf Wajdi said Mara planned to sue the cafeteria operator for allegedly breaching contract terms and failing to maintain cleanliness.
