Bazaars' food safety is under spotlight in Malaysia

Malaysia Food Bazaar

During this time of the year, Malaysians get to enjoy a wide array of local food and snacks, available only during the fasting month of Ramadan.

While bazaars are popular hotspots, it is also a hotbed for all kinds of food-borne diseases.

Health authorities are warning people to be extra careful.

This year, one girl has already died and hundreds of others fell sick after eating contaminated food from bazaars.

However, despite the spike in the number of food poisoning cases, popular Ramadan bazaars are still as busy as ever. Malaysians just cannot resist the temptation of good food, especially with so many great choices, with some only items available during the fasting month of Ramadan.

For example, over a hundred varieties of local snacks are on sale everyday in makeshift stalls outside the Bangsar mosque.

These traders are issued special permits during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

They sell all kinds of local fare from desserts to snacks, including items like otak otak or spicy fish cake.

But just how safe is it to eat?

An 11-year-old girl recently died after eating food bought from a Ramadan bazaar.

It raised the question of hygiene, and whether food will spoil when kept for too long in hot, humid conditions.

Still, the incident has left many undeterred.

One person said: "They have lots of food you can choose from, kuih...which you do not see on normal days. So far, I am ok, no stomach ache. ''

Another noted: "I do not think this is just restricted to Ramadan bazaars, it is about food overall in Malaysia, even restaurants.''

Consumers hope the local health authorities will step up checks at bazaars to monitor cleanliness, as well as food handling at stalls.

But some traders are up in arms over the issue.

One of them said: "They (consumers) already have pre-existing health problems. It is not just the food. Also, people tend to overeat when breaking fast, that is how they get sick. This is the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, how can the food be not clean? The drinks, the chicken, fish, noodles, everything is clean.''

Meanwhile, locals have some tips to avoid food poisoning.

One local said: "If I see rats around, I won't go to those places and buy.''

Another advised: "Buy food that is freshly made here, grilled here, not packed and cooked elsewhere."

A third suggested: "Keep going back to stalls you are familiar with."

But without strict enforcement by authorities, the best advice may still be caveat emptor or "Let the buyer beware".

Petronas Towers In Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia

Strategically located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its exact location is The junction of Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Ampang.

The Petronas Towers are the worlds “tallest freestanding” towers in the world housing an assortment of office buildings, a contemporary concert hall and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in the Petronas Malaysia Philharmonic Hall.

At a staggering 452 meters in height the Petronas Towers dominate the skyline in Kuala Lumpur. The geometric impressions on both towers are often found in Islamic architecture. Two overlaid and rotated squares each encompass small, rounded in fillings adorned on the Petronas Towers. Many architects describe this special pattern as symbolizing stability, unity, harmony and rationale which are all important Islamic principles. Special highlights of the Petronas Towers include high-speed double deck elevators and an exciting double deck Sky Bridge.

There is a tour of the Sky Bridge available at Petronas Malaysia where you can enjoy a panoramic city view below. The tour is a short 10 minutes and leads up to the bridge. The best time to go is early in the morning to beat the long lines that can develop. Tickets are handed out on a first-come-first-served basis and you can choose the tour time when you get tickets. The Sky Bridge is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm from Tuesday through Sunday and is free.

Inside the Petronas Twin Tower Kuala Lumpur merchants line the first few floors. There are also arcades, and an assortment of restaurants. There is an interesting Science Museum you can visit that’s great when on a family-oriented Malaysia holiday. Kuala Lumpur attractions nearby are easily visited after a climb to the top of the Petronas Twin Tower during a Malaysia vacation. When visiting the Petronas Twin Tower Kuala Lumpurs city center will surround you with many more beautiful buildings. Often called a “city within a city” the area is large and stretches in every direction.

Situated between the Petronas Towers is one of the best shopping destinations in Kuala Lumpur, Suria KLCC, containing a huge array of merchandise to peruse. With six levels to explore a trip here can easily eat up an entire day if you like to shop! The Mandarin Oriental is due south of Suria KLCC and is considered to be the most affluent of Kuala Lumpur hotels. Though many can’t afford the high costs to stay, if you really wish to see the elegant interior try one of their restaurants for a five star dining experience.

In the immediate vicinity, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center can also be found. In addition to hosting many international events and trade shows The Aquaria Oceanarium is also inside. This is said to be the biggest aquarium in the world. It features more than 5,000 marine and aquatic animals with exhibits highlighting 150 native and international species. The Batu Cave is a major attraction in the city and not to be missed when in the area.

The KLCC Park is a wonder in itself, a massive green space in the middle of a huge and bustling city, much like Lumphini Park in Thailand. Don’t miss it after visiting Petronas Malaysia. The park is an attraction for the many things to do among the beautifully landscaped areas.

With breathtaking views of Petronas Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur shines in all her glory. Relaxing rest areas, a child’s pool, jogging track, Symphony Lake Fountains and more can all be found on the grounds. Many locals frequent the area during lunch time and visitors from all over the world walk the grounds admiring the beautiful pairing of nature with man’s creation.

Did you know? That the Malaysia Petronas Tower is sprawling over 50-acres, the tropical gardens and lush foliage offer a haven of serenity and a respite from the dynamic and ever-busy inner city. The Petronas Towers are joined only at the 41st and the 42nd floor where the Sky Bridge is. Walking along the Sky Bridge is one of the main events when on a Malaysia tour of this captivating development. The bridge spans an astonishing 192 feet.

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Malaysia Penang Sour Laksa

Laksa is very famous in Malaysia, and they just loved it!

Malaysia Penang Sour Laksa

Serves : 4

Ingredients :

1 packet laksa noodles (scalded & drained)
2 pieces fish cakes
1 packet fish balls
800g mackerel (boilded, discard head & bones)
2 limes (quartered)
2 hard-boiled eggs (halved)
3 tablespoons black shrimp paste / otak udang
15g polygonum leaves
1 stalk ginger flower / bunga kantan
3 dried assam slices

Finely sliced
350g pineapple
1 medium cucumber
2 large onions
1 red chilli

2 litre water
salt, sugar to taste

Ground ingredients
4 shallots
4 cloves garlic
8 dried chillies
2cm piece young ginger
2cm piece dried shrimp paste

Method :

Bring a large pan of water to boil. Put in the ground ingredients, assam slices, ginger flower, polygonum leaves and seasonings. Stir occasionally till it boils again. Reduce heat and simmer till the ingredients are cooked.

Add in black shrimp paste, fish cakes and fish balls. Let it boil once more.

Place laksa noodles in small bowls, top with the sliced ingredients followed by the eggs. Ladle the soup and squeeze lime juice on it to give the extra flavour.

Malaysia Travel Discoveries

The Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,350 sq mi). The country is separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (also known as West and East Malaysia respectively).

Malaysia shares land borders with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and also has maritime boundaries with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population as of 2009 stood at over 28 million.

Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements. Peninsular Malaysia, then known as Malaya, was first unified under the commonwealth in 1946, before becoming the Federation of Malaya in 1948. In 1963, Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to form modern Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation, and became an independent city state.

Since its independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for the first 50 years of independence. The economy of the country has, traditionally, been fuelled by its natural resources, but is now also expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.

Malaysia's head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, conventionally referred to as "the Head" or "the Agong". The Agong is an elected monarch chosen from amongst the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states. The head of government is the Prime Minister. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on English Common Law.

Malaysia is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, factors that influence its culture and play a large role in Malaysian politics. Malaysia can claim the southernmost point of continental Eurasia at Tanjung Piai, is located near the equator and has a tropical climate. It has a biodiverse range of flora and fauna, and is considered one of the 17 megadiverse countries.

It is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Evidence of human habitation in Malaysia dates back 40,000 years. The first inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula were most probably Negritos. The Malay Peninsula was known to ancient Indians as Suvarnadvipa or the "Golden Peninsula", and was shown on Ptolemy's map as the "Golden Khersonese". Traders and settlers from India and China arrived as early as the first century of the common era, establishing trading ports and towns in the area in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. Both had a strong influence on the local culture.

In the early centuries of the first millennium, the people of the Malay Peninsula adopted the Indian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The Sanskrit writing system was used as early as the 4th century. Between the 7th and the 13th century, much of Peninsular Malaysia was under the Srivijaya empire, which was centered in Palembang on the island of Sumatra. After the fall of Srivijaya, the Java-based Majapahit empire had influence over most of Peninsular Malaysia and the Malay Archipelago.

In the early 15th century, Parameswara, a prince of the former Srivijayan empire, established a dynasty and founded what would become the Malacca Sultanate, commonly considered the first independent state in the peninsula. Parameswara became a Muslim, and due to the fact that Malacca was under a Muslim Prince, the conversion of Malays to Islam accelerated in the 15th century. Malacca was an important commercial centre during this time, attracting trade from around the region.