The ministry said the food stalls were ordered to close under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, which deals with the closure of unsanitary premises “that fail to comply with sanitary and hygienic requirements such that it is likely to be hazardous to health”.

“A total of 1,299 Ramadan bazaars nationwide were inspected from March 12 to April 5, with a total of 43,304 premises inspected. Of this total, three food premises were ordered to close,” it said in a statement.

Some 1,639 compound notices were also issued to stall owners, their representatives, and food handlers for various offences, including the failure to undergo food handler training, not being immunised against typhoid, and not using the required equipment.

The compounds were worth RM163,900 in total.

The ministry also said it received 29 complaints related to food sold at Ramadan bazaars nationwide. Twenty of them have been resolved while nine are still under investigation.