In Putrajaya, the Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) will be closely monitoring Ramadan bazaar sites using its task force daily to ensure that there are no incidents involving hygiene or food safety issues, according to its president Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud.
Fadlun mentioned that next week, 700 Ramadan bazaar traders will receive a briefing on food preparation to guarantee the safety of the food being sold.
He emphasized the importance of monitoring when traders prepare food, as sometimes it is done in the evening with no specific time for consumption. The task force will always be on alert to ensure cleanliness and quality, reminding or halting any business activities on the spot if necessary.
“We will ensure that the quality of food preparation is up to standard,” Fadlun stated after officially launching the Putrajaya Lake Lantern Festival 2024.
Following a viral video of a customer finding worms in noodles with cuttlefish purchased for RM30 at a previous Ramadan bazaar, PPj took action by issuing a warning and closing down the stall operator through the Health Ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Division.
This year, PPj will mandate that all Ramadan bazaar traders use biodegradable packaging instead of plastic to wrap food, encouraging customers to bring their own containers as well.
The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin on March 12 for Muslims in Malaysia.
In terms of regulating traders who give or sell business licenses to others, Fadlun stated that PPj will immediately revoke licenses if such actions are detected. Measures have been put in place this year to prevent this, with each trader being issued a pass displaying their photo.
“By issuing passes with traders’ photos, we can easily identify any unauthorized actions. Licenses are issued to individuals, not associations,” Fadlun explained.
This year, a total of seven Ramadan bazaar sites have been prepared across different locations in Putrajaya. In Presint 11, the Ramadan bazaar will be managed by the Resident Representative Council (MPP), providing business opportunities for residents.
Furthermore, PPj is currently conducting a census to identify unlicensed traders conducting “car boot sales” in areas like Dataran Putra. Fadlun mentioned that more than 10 traders have already been identified, and they will be provided with food safety briefings and required to take typhoid shots for the safety of their products.
“If everything goes smoothly, we plan to allocate a designated site for these traders to operate legally after completing all necessary procedures,” Fadlun added.
While there have been no complaints of sanitary issues so far, Fadlun stressed the importance of following rules and getting vaccinations for a safe trading environment. – Bernama
