Malaysia Chiak! food court at Northpoint City mall suspended for 2 weeks due to infestation

SINGAPORE — The licence of Malaysia Chiak! food court at Northpoint City mall has been suspended for two weeks from Wednesday (Sept 21) due to infestation, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said.

The licensee has also been fined S$800 after accumulating 12 demerit points in a year. It was given six demerit points each for two offences of failing to keep the premises free of infestation. SFA did not specify the kind of infestation.

A licensee who accumulates 12 or more demerit points within a year may have its licence suspended for a period of either two or four weeks, or the licence may be cancelled, said SFA.

The suspension of the food court's licence will run from Wednesday to Oct 4.

In response to CNA's queries, a spokesperson for Malaysia Chiak! apologised for the inconvenience to customers.

The spokesperson said it received notification of the suspension on Sept 1 and put in place plans during the temporary closure to refurbish the food court's layout so as to "better facilitate outlet cleaning and upkeep".

"To prevent similar occurrences of such incidents, we will be sending all our food handlers for retraining on food safety and hygiene," the spokesperson added.

"Since April, we have also doubled the number of inspections with our pest control vendor and will be actively working with them to implement an effective solution."

A spokesperson for Northpoint City mall said that it is aware that the food court's business operations have been temporarily suspended.

"The health and safety of our staff, tenants and shoppers is important to us, and we have reminded all our F&B tenants to maintain strict levels of hygiene at all times," added the spokesperson.

CNA has contacted SFA for more information.

All food handlers working in the suspended premises will be required to re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1 before they can resume work, said SFA.

The licensee is also required to ensure that all food hygiene officers working in the suspended premises, if any, re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 3, added the agency.

"SFA takes a serious view of these offences and would like to remind food operators to observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers," it said.

"SFA will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to be in violation of the Environmental Public Health Act."

The agency also advised members of the public who come across poor hygiene practices in food establishments not to patronise such outlets and provide feedback to SFA. CNA