KEPALA BATAS – The Penang Health Department has declared ‘war’ against illegal filtered water dispenser operators in the state after its officers confiscated 125 machines with a value of almost RM1 million.
The seizure was made under Ops Sita, which was launched yesterday throughout the district, targeting illegal operators that supply dispensers without licence and permission from the health director-general.
The department’s Food Safety and Quality Division environmental health officer Mohd Wazir Khalid said his team had conducted similar operations on a large scale in 2017 and 2018, to curb the operation of illegal filtered water dispensers in Penang.
“However, the owners are still seen to be careless and adamant to resume operations.
“Most of the owners of these filtered water dispensers are from the same company, and there were no agreements made between the company and the filtered water dispenser premises,” he said at a press conference following the operation, here, today.
Wazir said, among the offences committed included self-claims that the dispenser was capable of curing certain diseases, the illegal usage of domestic water and electricity sources, and the use of dubious halal logos.
In this regard, he said, the state Health Department issued a 14-day notice for the owner of the filtered water machine to appear at the health department office to assist in their investigations.
“If they fail to appear within three months, we will open an investigation paper to apply to the court to dispose of all the dispensers that have been seized.
“This time we will take firm action. We don’t want them to continue their illegal operations”.
Wazir said the Health Ministry will also be placing special stickers on approved filtered water machines, to ensure the public is not fooled by illegal filtered water machines.
“What we are worried about is that this illegal filtered water dispenser is contaminated with microbes and chemicals that can affect people.
“So, we advise the public to always choose a filtered water dispenser that is approved by the Health Ministry to ensure consumer well-being,” he added. – The Vibes, December 15, 2021
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