Hygiene crackdown continues in Penang

FOOD traders who operate at the food and beverage complexes of the local councils will have their licences revoked if they fail to use or maintain their grease traps.

“There will be no more warnings after this.

“The local councils will immediately revoke the licences of culprits.

“My speech is the warning. The councils’ enforcement team will be conducting spot checks after this,” said state Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo before opening a new food complex at the Sri Penanti market in Seberang Prai on Sunday.

The grease traps are installed so that food waste does not directly go into the drains.

Jagdeep (left) and Rozali showing a grease trap installed under a sink at a food stall.

On the Penang mainland, there are 66 food complexes with 1,529 stalls under the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).

Council president Datuk Rozali Mohamud said each grease trap costs about RM3,000 to RM4,000to install and requires regular maintenance.

He said the enforcement team would start with those whose stalls were equipped with the grease traps given by the council.

“We will eventually move on to other operators to make sure they comply with the requirement by 2022,” said Rozali.

The food complex in Sri Penanti market was completed in nine months, costing RM385,500.

Each of the 13 food stalls is equipped with a grease trap, lights and fans.

There are also yellow tactile pavings and a ramp to guidethe visually impaired into the complex.