GEORGE TOWN: Three food premises in the southwest district have been ordered to close after failing to meet several hygiene requirements.
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement team on Tuesday conducted inspections on four premises and only one met the hygiene standard.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said out of the three, two were ordered to close after rat droppings were found inside the premises.
He said the other premises obtained a grading score of below 50 per cent.
"All three premises were ordered to close for 14 days to carry out thorough cleaning works.
"During the operation, rat droppings were found inside two of the premises. The owner of the other eatery placed raw food items less than 20cm from the floor surface which is unacceptable.
"We also found that one of the premises drain dirty waste water or oil into public drains or with grease traps not properly maintained and other issues," he said today.
Yew said a total of eight compounds were issued — two for the operating food premises without license and one for placing raw food items less than 20cm from the floor level.
MBPP would continue to carry out routine inspections to ensure food safety in food premises is always maintained, yew said.