MELAKA, March 30 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Health Department has issued 52 compounds totalling RM22,000 under Section 32B of the Food Hygiene Regulations (PPKM) 2009 under Ops Ramadan since last week.

Its director, Datuk Dr Rusdi Abd Rahman said the action was taken as a result of inspections carried out at ice factories, chicken farms, meat factories and Ramadan buffets at hotels.

“As a result of inspections at the 14 factories, six compounds were issued totalling RM3,250 while inspections at 44 hotels providing Ramadan buffets resulted in a total of 46 compounds amounting to RM18,750 being issued, with two of them ordered closed.

“We also carried out checks at 897 premises in three districts and found the level of cleanliness of the premises to be satisfactory at 80 per cent,” he told reporters after conducting checks at the Peringit Ramadan market, here, today.

Dr Rusdi also said that although no compounds were issued to any Ramadan bazaar traders under Section 32 of PPKM 2009 during the first week of the fasting month, traders were reminded to continue to comply with the stipulated rules.

He said that based on the monitoring of the Ramadan bazaars, a handful of traders still committed offences such as not wearing an apron and hat, wearing rings and keeping long fingernails.

He added that more than 80 State Health Department enforcement officers have been deployed to monitor the cleanliness level of food sold at Ramadan bazaars.

-- BERNAMA