Sabah sees 66.6 pct jump in clean and safe food premises

Borneo Post

2 days ago

Shahelmey (second from right) presenting a recognition certificate during a walkabout at Imago's BeBAS Zone. – Information Department photo
KOTA KINABALU (July 28): Sabah has recorded a significant increase in Clean and Safe Recognition (BeSS) since the Smoke-Free Clean Premises (BeBAS) initiative was introduced in 2024.
Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya stated that the number of food premises receiving certification has surged from 57 to 95, representing a 66.6 percent increase. This demonstrates that the BeBAS initiative implemented by the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) reflects the commitment of various parties in ensuring food premises are clean, safe, high-quality and smoke-free.
'Starting in 2024 and continuing into 2025, the Sabah State Food Safety and Quality Division has received numerous applications from restaurants and chain food premises across Sabah,' he said.
'This shows a strong commitment from food operators in Sabah to ensure their premises meet high standards of hygiene and safety. These efforts not only boost the confidence of local consumers but also support our growing food tourism sector,' he added during his speech officiating the 2025 Sabah State-Level World Food Safety Day Celebration here on Sunday.
He noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) reports hundreds of millions of cases of foodborne illnesses annually.
'In Malaysia, the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) revealed a link between dietary patterns and non-communicable diseases. Additionally, food poisoning incidents remain a concern, and we find that a large segment of the population, particularly the elderly and teenagers, lack awareness about reading food product labels,' he explained.
'KKM implements various interventions to ensure the well-being of the people in this country, with the aspiration of transforming healthcare from sick care to health care. This is proven by the implementation of various high-impact programs and initiatives such as certification, recognition, licensing, and various other services by KKM for the food sector in Malaysia,' he elaborated.
Furthermore, he called on consumers to play an active role in ensuring food safety.
'As consumers, we also play a crucial role in this food safety chain. We are responsible for verifying the authenticity of food safety-related information before sharing it. Always enhance your knowledge about food safety and practice the simple concepts of 'Observe and Choose' and 'Look, Smell, Taste'. These are the most basic and effective steps to avoid food poisoning and ensure the food we consume is safe,' he urged.
The 2025 World Food Safety Day Celebration, themed 'Food Safety Science in Action,' is held annually on June 7 to highlight the role of science in ensuring safe food for all.
The two-day program also saw several food premises at the Imago shopping mall receive BeSS recognition plaques as a symbol of their success in achieving the standards.