By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 22: Eateries and food stalls are not allowed to serve food and drinks using their in-house utensils to customers for them to have their meals in their vehicles, says Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
However, it does not mean that people are not permitted to eat their takeaway in their vehicles for their convenience, due to short lunch break hours and to minimise travel time.
Eateries and food stalls should pack food and drinks in single-use takeaway materials like containers and cups and provide disposable utensils for customers to takeaway in order to minimise physical transfer and contact due to vigilance for the safety and health of workers and customers.
Wee pointed out that even though customers are not dining-in at the premises, it is still considered against the standard operating procedures (SOP).
“A hotel called us up to clarify this issue and we have also raised this with the (State Disaster Management) Committee.
“So it was explained that takeaway means to bring packaged food away and leave the premises. But if in-house utensils are being brought out of the premises, and even though you are eating on your own in the car, it is considered to have breached the SOP,” he explained during his ‘Shall Wee Talk?’ live sharing session with the community today.
Wee added that this particular restriction will be added to the existing SOPs under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) that has been extended until June 7 in Sarawak.
Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Miri City Council (MCC) Mayor Adam Yii and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting also participated in the session. — DayakDaily
