PRESS STATEMENT

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

ACTION TAKEN ON DIRTY CANTEEN IN HOSPITAL TENGKU AMPUAN RAHIMAH

In  response  to the article titled “Dirty Hospital Canteen Ordered Shut”  published in the Malay Mail dated 14 April 2015, the Ministry of Health would  like  to  thank  the  press for  their concern on  the  matter raised with regards to the canteen at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), Klang.

The Ministry of Health takes this matter seriously and believe that cleanliness and hygiene in the hospital environment should be put a priority by the hospital management. The Ministry has directed the State Health Office and Hospital Directors to regularly inspect the canteen, cafeteria and hospital kitchen to ensure that it meets standard hygiene requirement. Food premises in the hospital are  subjected to regular inspections by the in-house Public Health Inspectors (Pegawai Kesihatan Persekitaran).

As for HTAR Klang, inspection for the main canteen was carried on Friday, 10 April 2015  at 11.30 am. The canteen’s premise was found to have not met the standard required. Hence, the canteen operator was ordered to close and was given 14 day notice to clean up. This closure is in accordance to Section 11 Food Act 1983. A follow-up inspection on  Monday 13 April at 2 pm however reported that the canteen has achieved the cleanliness requirement and was re-opened at 3 pm the same day. The canteen operator was not sacked, as earlier reported.

The in-house public health unit has been instructed to monitor closely and conduct frequent inspections to ensure the canteen  is clean and meets the standard hygiene requirement.

DATUK DR. NOOR HISHAM BIN ABDULLAH

Director General of Health Malaysia

Ministry of Health Malaysia

15th April 2015