GEORGE TOWN: A restaurant in Bukit Jambul was ordered to close for 14 days due to a cockroach infestation and unsatisfactory kitchen conditions.
The restaurant was one of eight premises checked during an operation yesterday. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP), in a Facebook posting, said that during checks, they found the premises to be infested with cockroaches.
"The kitchen condition was also unsatisfactory. We ordered it to close for two weeks for clean-up," the council said.
MBPP also reported that during the operation, five compound offer notices (NTK) were issued for various offences, including placing food materials less than 20cm from the floor, failing to take appropriate measures to prevent food contamination, and unclean toilet conditions.
"Ongoing monitoring and surprise inspections of all food premises on the island will be conducted from time to time to ensure that the premises remain clean and meet established standards. In addition to advising business owners on cleanliness, officers from the city council also reminded them of the ban on the use of plastic drinking straws at all food and beverage premises, effective from Oct 1," the council added.
More than a week ago, three eateries here were ordered to close for 14 days after they were found to be unhygienic. Checks in the kitchens and stores of these premises led to the discovery of rat and cockroach droppings.