RAMADAN BAZAAR:  342 HEALTH ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DEPLOYED IN TERENGGANU

KUALA NERUS -- A total of 342 enforcement officers from the Terengganu Health Department has been deployed to monitor the level of cleanliness and food safety at 4,938 stalls in 59 Ramadan bazaars this year.

Its director Datuk Dr Kasemani Embong said all the 342 enforcement officers have been divided into 130 operations teams to ensure that the 9,666 food handlers at Ramadan bazaars follow all the rules stipulated.

"Their task is to randomly collect food samples at Ramadan bazaars to ensure that the food sold is free from any contamination that may cause harm and endanger health,” she said.

She was met at the launch of the 'Nafas Baru Bermula Ramadan’ and the state-level ‘Operasi Cakna Undang-Undang Kesihatan Awam,’ here today.

-- BERNAMA

FOUR MEN ARRESTED WITH 420 PACKS OF KETUM WATER AND 75KG OF KETUM LEAVES

BALIK PULAU -- Police busted a syndicate processing and selling ketum water after detaining four men with 420 packets of ketum water and 75 kilograms (kg) of ketum leaves in a raid on a house in Kampung Bukit, Bayan Lepas near here yesterday.

Southwest District police chief Supt Kamarul Rizal Jenal said, acting on information and intelligence carried out, a police team raided the house at 1.45 pm and arrested four men aged between 18 and 50.

"During the raid, police found 120 packets of processed ketum water in a car parked in front of the house. Police also found three ice containers containing 300 packets of processed ketum water valued at RM2,100.

"We also confiscated 15 black plastic packages containing ketum leaves weighing 75 kg worth RM3,000 and various equipment to process ketum water,” he said when contacted today.

Kamarul Rizal said the four men were remanded for four days to assist in the investigation and the case was being investigated under Section 30 (3) of the Poisons Act 1952.

-- BERNAMA

BODY OF ELDERLY WOMAN SWEPT AWAY IN A FLASH FLOOD FOUND AFTER FIVE DAYS

IPOH -- The body of an elderly woman who was reported to have been swept away during a flash flood in Cameron Highlands, Pahang last Tuesday have been found at about 11.45 am today.          

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director (Operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said the body of Mariam Bertampan, 62, was found by a Search and Rescue (SAR) on the fifth day about 500 meters from where the victim fell.        

 "The victim's body has been handed over to the police for further action," he said in a statement today.          

About 50 personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Force (APM) and residents took part in the SAR.          

In the incident at about 4.50 pm, the victim and three other women were crossing the river before she was swept away by strong currents.

It is understood that during the incident, the Kampung Sungai Ubi area received heavy rain for about an hour.

-- BERNAMA  

NO MERCY FOR TRADERS WHO HIKE PRICES OF GOODS - EXCO

ALOR GAJAH -- There will be no more compromises on traders who are found to increase the price of goods without a reasonable excuse just to make a profit, especially during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Melaka Unity, Community Relations, Manpower and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said notices and compounds will be issued to the traders concerned as a reminder not to commit the same offence in the future.

"We know that there has been an increase in the price of goods and we understand that traders are also burdened because their costs have also increased but it is not a reason to take the opportunity to raise prices at will.

"To ensure that the situation does not occur, monitoring will be done by the enforcement officers of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry more frequently at sales premises such as Ramadan markets and bazaars as well as supermarkets," he told reporters the Keluarga Malaysia Sales Carnival (KJKM) 'Mantai Ramadan at Taman Melaka Perdana here today.

--BERNAMA

MINISTRY TARGETS THE USE OF 'RETORT' MACHINES IN EVERY STATE, TO OVERCOME FOOD WASTAGE

KUALA BERANG  -- The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is aiming to provide at least one 'retort’ machine in every state to reduce food wastage, especially during the month of Ramadan.

Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said at the moment four states, namely Terengganu, Perlis, Kuala Lumpur and Johor have been provided with the machine priced at RM38,000 a piece at big hotels which normally have large food surpluses.

He said his ministry would be provided nine more machines in the near future to meet the need of each state.

"The nine machines are known as ‘thermal decontamination (retorted) which are more sophisticated because they are able to pack more types of food,” he said.

He said this to reporters after the Keluarga Malaysia Sales Program (PJKM) at the Kampung Telaga Mosque compound, here today.

-- BERNAMA