THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) has cancelled the operating licence of a restaurant in Pandan Indah over numerous food safety and hygiene-related violations.

The restaurant became a hot story after a video clip showing a rat munching on fried chicken stored in a food heater went viral three days ago. 

Yesterday health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the restaurant was ordered to close for two weeks after checks on the premises.

However, MPAJ president Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said in a statement that the council had issued a Notice of Licence Cancellation Confirmation (NPPL) with immediate effect on the eatery.

He said seizure action would be taken against the restaurant if it continues to run its business without a licence despite the NPPL being issued.

He also said MPAJ would only consider new licence applications if all conditions, especially related to cleanliness, are fully complied with.

“With immediate effect the NPPL will be issued on food premises in accordance with the actions taken by the Health Ministry through the Selangor Health Department, which issued a closure notice on Saturday on the eatery.

“Cleanliness checks of food premises in terms of food serving and preparation areas as well as pest control on the premises are also carried out regularly by MPAJ.

“MPAJ takes this issue seriously and action will be taken against any food outlet that takes hygiene aspects for granted,” he said in a statement.

He added that past inspection records showed the cleanliness rating of the restaurant was Grade B for June 2021, with the last check conducted in January. – December 26, 2022.