KOTA KINABALU – The man shown in a viral video seemingly spitting into a food mixture at a stall in Labuan has come forward to deny the act in a police report.
Labuan police confirmed to have received the man’s report on Wednesday.
It could not be ascertained when the incident took place but the man claimed to have received the viral video around 7pm before making a police report the same night.
The man said he was preparing the ingredients for “murtabak” and was checking for egg shells inside the mix when his action was recorded by an unknown person sitting inside a vehicle.
The incident may have taken place in one of the Ramadan bazaars on the Federal Territory island.
“A video posting on social media was also made by a Facebook user named Yueya Dearly saying she would viral the video of myself appearing to have spat into the mixture,” the man said in his police report.
According to Getaran, the Bahasa Malaysia sister portal of The Vibes, the trader, identified as Mohamad Shafiq Ahmad Asri, 29, called for police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to trace the individual who spread the video.
“I also want the relevant parties to take action against the individual involved for humiliating and slandering me.
“I will also take legal action through the courts against the relevant individual for causing losses to my business,” he said in the report.
A video has been circulating online of a man seemingly spitting into a food container that was to be sold to customers in Labuan.
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) April 21, 2023
The man has since come forward to deny the act in a police report. pic.twitter.com/X5ufgkBJoY
‘Food genie’ to help make sales?
Earlier, the video of the trader allegedly spitting into a large container with food at his stall was severely criticized by netizens.
The individual who shared the 11-second video had claimed that the act was done in order to make sales.
“Disgusted…I have lost my appetite to buy food at the bazaar. How can he spit in the food? This must be for the ‘food genie’ because he wants to help make sales,” wrote the individual who shared the video on social media.
Meanwhile, Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin confirmed the alleged incident happened in Labuan.
“We are aware of the video that went viral, and it happened in Labuan, but we cannot confirm the exact date of the incident,” she said.
According to her, health officers in all districts in the state are conducting periodic inspections at Ramadan bazaars.
“Our officers will also take random food samples to ensure there is no contamination.
“Most of our food handlers adhere to proper standard operating procedures and hygiene in handling food,” she said.
“Throughout Ramadan so far, Sabah has not experienced an increase in food poisoning cases,” he added. – The Vibes, April 21, 2023
