Nearly 13,000 food poisoning cases, 5 deaths recorded as of August

Malaysia recorded 12,899 food poisoning cases and five deaths between January and August 2023, according to health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. Dzulkefly defended the need for heavier penalties under the Food (Amendment) Bill 2026, stating that current punishments were no longer proportional to the severity of food safety offenses.

He cited two notable incidents: one at Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan where six students were hospitalized after consuming salmonella-contaminated omelette, and another in Kedah involving laksa that affected 61 people and resulted in two deaths. The responsible parties in both cases were fined relatively low amounts of RM3,000 and RM1,500 respectively.

Dzulkefly argued that these penalties have not been revised in the past 43 years and are no longer appropriate for the offenses committed. The proposed penalties, he said, were intended to protect consumers and encourage food businesses to operate responsibly, but do not aim to burden small traders. The health ministry would handle minor technical offenses through advice and health education, while severe threats to public health would result in immediate closure of premises and compound fines.

Repeat offenders would face direct court intervention with stricter monitoring. The Dewan Rakyat later approved the Food (Amendment) Bill 2026, aiming to enhance food safety enforcement and raise penalties for violations under the Food Act 1983.