The Penang Health Department has ordered 177 food premises to temporarily cease operations due to violations of hygiene and food safety regulations. The enforcement action came after the department inspected 4,069 premises—encompassing restaurants, canteens in schools and hospitals, and factory dining facilities—between January and April this year. Gooi Zi Sen, chairman of the State Youth, Sports and Health Committee, announced the closures at a press conference at Komtar on June 16.
Most inspected establishments met required hygiene standards, but those ordered shut require cleaning and remedial work. Additionally, staff from seven premises had not received typhoid vaccinations as mandated. The breakdown of violations showed that 122 premises (68.9 per cent) faced pest control deficiencies, 49 premises (27.7 per cent) exhibited inadequate cleanliness, and six premises (3.4 per cent) were linked to food poisoning cases.
Enforcement efforts included issuing 1,771 notices under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983 across 204 operations statewide. The department also fielded 241 complaints this year regarding food premises, with the majority—185 complaints—concerning restaurant and eatery cleanliness. Other grievances involved supermarkets, hawker stalls, food courts, school canteens, childcare facilities, and food delivery services.
Gooi emphasised that the enforcement measures are preventive rather than punitive, designed to guarantee public safety and prevent health risks from contaminated food. He rejected suggestions that operators could evade inspections through relationships with particular pest control providers or that enforcement targeted specific ethnic groups. All actions comply with standard operating procedures, legal requirements, and comprehensive risk assessments regardless of business type or operator background.
Food premise operators are encouraged to maintain rigorous cleanliness standards, conduct regular equipment maintenance, implement effective pest control, and adhere to safe food handling protocols to remain compliant with regulations.
