‘With a dirty cafeteria in the Parliament building, no wonder so many of our MPs are sick and suffering from legislative diarrhoea.’ – A Malaysiakini reader
This news item on Nov 13 caught my attention: “The Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Federal Territory Health Department has ordered the closure of the Parliament cafeteria for two weeks over cleanliness issues.
“The order, issued under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, takes effect from today (Nov 13) until Nov 26 to facilitate the clean-up process.
“Managed by Pak Tam Restaurant, the cafeteria was shuttered after officers from the Health Department conducted an inspection today.”
What was my first reaction to the news? Well, I was not surprised at all. Having frequented Parliament for many years, I have consistently found the quality of the cafeteria fare, especially the in-house prepared dishes, to be unimpressive.
As far as I know, there are two cafeterias in the Parliament building, one serving the public and the other for VIPs, meaning for MPs and Senate members and their guests. I have been to both and I will say that it’s not the first choice for me to go for a meal.
In all fairness, I have not visited the café’s kitchen area, so it would be inappropriate for me to judge the hygiene practices of food preparation or the handlers. The fact that the Health Department has mandated the closure of the establishment suggests deficiencies in cleanliness standards.
What I have noticed, however, is that the takeaway foodstuff like kuih and cut fruits on display are not covered, thus opening them up for contamination. This was evident in the two outlets which I believe are operated by the same caterer.
I am uncertain about the succession of café operators at Parliament over the years. If there have been changes, it appears that those in charge of selecting caterers may not have been effectively fulfilling their responsibilities. I have not noticed significant enhancements in the Food and Beverage department during my visits.
I have been following the comments from readers in a news portal on this issue. I agree with the main grouse highlighted by a reader who wrote that “if this can happen in Parliament, the seat of government, I dread to think about what goes on in restaurants and other eateries”.
In other words, the reader is implying that an unclean cafeteria in the august house of Parliament is indeed unacceptable and can be considered a disgrace.
If the facilities in Parliament which is the highest institution of a country’s democracy cannot even maintain basic cleanliness, it reflects poorly on the management and oversight of public resources.
An unclean cafeteria also poses health hazards to lawmakers, staff and visitors. It sends the wrong message about the institution’s concern for well-being and adherence to hygiene standards.
Maintaining a clean, well-organised cafeteria in Parliament is not just a matter of aesthetics but a fundamental duty to uphold the dignity of the institution and ensure a healthy environment for all.
It is interesting to note that of late, dirty eateries and poor food handling are regular topics of discussion over the many social media platforms in our country and surely, in others as well.
The most common one involves unclean mamak restaurants, staff washing plates and utensils in the drains outside the premises and worse of all, the ritual of spitting into food and drinks before serving to customers.
The Health Department and local authorities should be complimented for conducting regular checks on eateries in public places, particularly shopping malls, airports, hospitals, train stations, etc.
The other area in which I hope more stringent checks will be conducted is the school canteen. Food poisoning cases in schools are not that uncommon and this is something which should not happen at all.
In a Malay Mail report, recent food poisoning incidents in Malaysian schools have raised significant concerns about food safety and hygiene standards. Cases like the hospitalisation of 24 students in Negeri Sembilan and 103 pupils in Sabah highlight the recurring nature of these issues, often linked to improperly prepared or contaminated school meals, such as nasi lemak or catered foods.
To address these incidents, Malaysian authorities and educational institutions are now strictly enforcing food hygiene regulations. Schools and caterers must comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009. This includes regular inspections of food preparation areas and mandatory licensing for food vendors
It is also gratifying to note that the Malaysian Medical Association has also called for stricter regulations and the enhancement of public awareness about food safety, emphasising the need for collaboration between health authorities, schools, and vendors to prevent future cases.
I hope to see an improvement in the Parliament cafeteria on all scores – a cleaner environment, better and tastier fare and friendlier staff – on my next visit to the August house.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
