Kota Kinabalu: A 33-year-old food seller was fined RM3,500, or two months’ jail in default, by the Magistrate’s Court here on Tuesday for selling contaminated Ayam Masak Lemak at a Ramadan bazaar in Penampang earlier this year.
Salbiah Laturu pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to selling ready-to-eat Ayam Masak Lemak contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogenic microorganism, at the Nasi Bujang Berlauk Abe Wie stall at the Kepayan Point Ramadan Bazaar at 4.50pm on Feb 23 this year.
The offence contravened Regulation 39(2) of the Food Regulations 1985, which prohibits the sale of ready-to-eat food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, and is punishable under Regulation 397(2) of the same regulations with a fine of up to RM10,000, a jail term of up to two years, or both upon conviction.
Health prosecuting officer Rals Benjamin Yakod told the court that authorised officers from the Penampang Health Office conducted routine food sampling during Ops Ramadan 2026 at the Kepayan Point Ramadan Bazaar.
The officers randomly selected two food stalls for inspection and collected samples of two ready-to-eat dishes, including Ayam Masak Lemak from Salbiah’s stall, in the presence of the stall’s representative.
The food samples were properly labelled, purchased by the officers and sent to the Kota Kinabalu Public Health Laboratory for analysis of Bacillus cereus, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus.
On March 19, the Penampang Health Office received the laboratory report confirming that the Ayam Masak Lemak sample tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus, with the result recorded as “detected but less than 400 CFU/g”, while the other sample complied with food safety requirements.
The prosecution sought an appropriate sentence, submitting that the Food Regulations 1985 were enacted to protect consumers from the dangers of contaminated food and that Salbiah’s offence constituted a breach of public safety.
Rals told the court that Staphylococcus aureus produces heat-resistant toxins capable of causing severe food poisoning, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. In serious cases involving children or the elderly, it could lead to critical dehydration or even death.
He added that most food poisoning cases in Malaysia were linked to poor food handling practices and failure to maintain proper food temperatures, which encourage bacterial growth.
The prosecution also informed the court that the Health Ministry recorded 12,821 food poisoning cases in 2025, while 707 food poisoning outbreaks were reported nationwide in 2024.
Rals urged the court to prioritise public interest and impose a deterrent sentence to reinforce the importance of food safety and protect public health.
Salbiah paid the fine.
