237 Melaka Food Premises Awarded Bess Recognition As Of July - Ab Rauf

MELAKA, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- A total of 237 food premises in Melaka have received recognition under the Bersih, Selamat dan Sihat (BeSS) or Clean, Safe and Healthy initiative as of July this year, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said two premises from the state were also named as recipients at the 2024 National Clean and Safe Food Court Awards.

“As a historic tourism state, the Melaka government places hygiene and food safety as a key agenda to ensure the satisfaction and confidence of tourists,” he said.

“On that basis, strengthening BeSS is given priority as one of the key initiatives to ensure the availability of safe, high-quality and competitive food, particularly at tourist hotspots,” he said.

He said this when officiating the Melaka 2025 World Food Safety Day, organised by the state health department here today.

The text of his speech was read by State Human Resources, Health and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem.

At the event, a total of 60 food entrepreneurs in the state received various certifications and recognitions under the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Food Safety and Quality programme.

Meanwhile, Ab Rauf said findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 showed that the health status of Melaka’s population, particularly adults, is currently a cause for concern.

He said 33.5 per cent of adults in the state suffer from high cholesterol, 29.5 per cent from hypertension, and 20.5 per cent from diabetes - the second-highest diabetes prevalence rate in Malaysia.

“This figure is not merely data, but a reminder that food safety and healthy eating must be given serious attention.

“It calls for more systematic joint action, based on science and collective responsibility, to safeguard public health,” he said, adding that only four cases of food poisoning had been recorded in Melaka so far this year compared to 12 cases last year, reflecting a 30 per cent decrease.

-- BERNAMA