JOHOR BARU, Dec 16 — The Johor health authorities ordered a restaurant in Kota Tinggi to close today due to multiple violations, after a video of its unsanitary kitchen practices went viral on social media this week.
The restaurant, located in Heritage Mall in Kota Tinggi, is operated by foreigners and did not have the required certification for food handling. It is understood that the closure order is for a two-week period.
Johor Health and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said a team from the Kota Tinggi district health office inspected the restaurant at 11.45am today after receiving information.
He said the restaurant was ordered to close after the district health office investigation found 10 offences related to unsanitary conditions and potential cross contamination points.
“The premises were rented to foreigners, where all four food handlers did not have their training certificates and one of them did not have the required typhoid vaccination,” he said in a statement tonight.
Ling was commenting on the health authorities’ action after a Facebook video of the restaurant’s kitchen area showing a child urinating in the food preparation area was shared online.
The video caused public outrage over hygiene levels at the restaurant.
“The closure order was given under Section 12 of the Food Act 1983, as well as a cleaning order under Section 10(1) of the same Act.
“A compound notice was also issued to the premise owner for failing to ensure that the restaurant is in a clean condition under Regulation 11(1), read together with Regulation 15(1) for not registering the premises under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009,” he said.
