Cover image via 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
A restaurant caretaker in Penampang, Sabah, has been fined RM5,500 after pleading guilty to selling fish head curry that was found to contain excessive levels of Coliform bacteria
Mohamed Yakoob Mohamed Shaik Allaudeen, 39, entered his plea at the Magistrate's Court on 19 November.
According to the Daily Express, the charge stemmed from a routine inspection conducted by health officers on the morning of 7 July at Nasi Kandar Anak Mami.
During the visit, officers selected two dishes for sampling, including a serving of fish head curry priced at RM26. The samples were sealed and sent to the Kota Kinabalu Public Health Laboratory for analysis.
The laboratory results revealed that the fish head curry was heavily contaminated, recording a Coliform bacteria level of 110 MPN/g.
This figure is dangerously high, far exceeding the permissible limit of just 5 MPN/g stipulated under Malaysia's Food Regulations 1985, rendering the food unfit for consumption
In contrast, the second sample tested recorded a lower Coliform level of 24 MPN/g and was free of E. coli.
During the proceedings, the prosecution highlighted that this was not an isolated incident.
The court was told that the establishment had been the subject of previous public complaints regarding poor hygiene standards, including allegations of food being left uncovered, exposure to flies, and unsanitary preparation areas.
The prosecution argued that this indicated a recurring pattern of neglect rather than a one-off lapse
Yakoob, who was unrepresented, requested leniency, claiming that the fish head used in the dish had been purchased fresh. However, the magistrate imposed the fine of RM5,500, with a penalty of nine months' jail should he default on payment.
The offence, charged under the Food Act 1983, carries a maximum penalty of an RM20,000 fine or up to five years in prison.
