Typhoid fever: City Hall will not hesitate to revoke business licences

Food outlets in Kuala Lumpur will have their licenses revoked if foreign workers are found to be working as cooks in their premises.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said he had also instructed City Hall’s Licensing Department to monitor food outlets in a bid to contain the typhoid outbreak that has hit the city.

“I have instructed the Licensing Department to monitor (the food outlets) and take appropriate action. We will them haul up.

“If they fail to abide by the terms set by City Hall, we will revoke their business licenses,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby here today.

Tengku Adnan said, his Ministry was still studying the report issued by the Health Ministry on the typhoid outbreak.

He said, City Hall’s Health Department will work together with the Health Ministry to find the best solution to contain the outbreak and prevent it from recurring.

“We are still studying the problems that had been lined out by the Health Ministry. Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Health Department will continue with monitoring efforts and work together with the Health Ministry in determining the best way to overcome the typhoid outbreak that has plagued the city,” he said.

Tengku Adnan stressed, for the time being he is only satisfied with the management of food outlets around the Jalan Alor area.

City Hall had previously instructed food outlet operators to refrain from hiring foreign workers as cooks at their premises.

Foreign workers are only allowed to work as servers and cleaners.

“I had previously said we will face a problem if too many foreigners are being employed as cooks. But when I spoke about the rats issue and also beggars in the city, people got angry,” he said.

On Monday Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said some 32 typhoid fever cases had been reported to the Kuala Lumpur Health Department up until October 18.

Titiwangsa had recorded the highest number of typhoid fever cases at 16, followed by Kepong (8), Lembah Pantai (4) and Cheras (4).