TAWAU: Hotels, supermarkets and foodstalls were among the premises checked by the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC), Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) and Health Department on Wednesday night.
A hotel was given a warning by the Health Department as it did not adhere to its guidelines, while a supermarket was asked to take down its halal logos by a JHEAINS officer from Kota Kinabalu as they were not the original certificates.
At the foodstalls in Sabindo, several operators were warned to look after the hygiene of their food. An operator was given a compound after its workers did not have health course certificate and for dressing inappropriately.
Health environment officer Rahman Sampe said the hotel and supermarket had been given a warning notice to improve on several areas, including their storage facilities as they did not meet the specified requirements.
Several workers at the foodstalls were handling food while using rings and serving customers using only slippers, he said.
He added such lackadisical attitude would endanger the customers and the workers themselves as the usage of slippers when handling food is very dangerous as the workers could slip while delivering the food.
Meanwhile, TMC enforcement chief Azinun Sanarul, who headed the joint operation, told food operators to adhere to the guidelines to avoid action being taken against them.
Earlier on Wednesday, a leading restaurant chain was among those caught violating the use of halal logo issued by JHEAINS.
JHEAINS administrative officer Abdul Imam Basirun said several premises selling food were given warning for displaying the halal logo without permission.
He said some of them were found using the halal logo certificate that belonged to other premises.
This misuse of halal sign can be charged under Section 60 of the Syariah Criminal Offences. An offender can be fined RM1,000 or jailed for six months, or both.
Abdul advised operators of food premises to refer to JHEAINS on the process of getting valid halal certification.
He said JHEAINS would always provide help and advice to theapplicants.
To get the certificate is actually easy as an applicant only have to come to the JHEAINS office to fill an application form. The department will monitor the premises before approving the application.
According to him, the halal standard covers not only the premises that are not selling pork, but also on the aspects of cleanliness and the materials used.
Meanwhile, a woman was arrested during the operation after she was found selling Quranic verses to the public without the consent from JHEAINS.
The Indonesian woman, in her 40s, was often seen begging in the streets by selling the verses.
According to Abdul, the woman was selling the verses of Al Quran without permission and its authenticity has not been determined.