SINGAPORE – Twenty-two unregistered food handlers working at the Geylang Serai Bazaar were arrested during a joint operation by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Police Force on Tuesday (May 30). 

A spokesperson for the MOM said the raid at the bazaar was carried out in the afternoon and added that the suspects who were detained were also found to be working illegally in Singapore. The agency, however, was unable to provide details about their nationality.

Earlier on Tuesday, pictures were circulating online that showed personnel in plainclothes detaining vendors at the bazaar. 

It is currently unclear which stalls the suspects were working at.

Member of Parliament Zainal Saparai took to Facebook on Tuesday as well to clarify that the raid was not related to concerns about non Muis Halal-certified food being sold at the bazaar. 

Mr Zainal was responding to a query on the Halal Café & Restaurants Facebook page seeking an update on suggestions online that “dengdeng” (a type thinly sliced dried meat typically found in Indonesian cuisine) found at the bazaar was non Muis Halal-certified.

A Whatsapp message had been circulating among Muslims claiming that Muis was unable to confirm the source of dengdeng sold at the bazaar stalls.

Mr Zainal clarified: “(The raid) was a joint operations between NEA, Police and MOM. During the inspection, they found unlicensed food handlers (who) were also working illegally, which is an arrestable offence.”