IPOH - A total of 60 students of the Gerik Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) suffered from food poisoning after consuming the "ayam masak merah” dish during iftar on Sunday.
Perak Health, Human Resources National Integration and Indian Community Affairs exco A. Sivanesan said the form one to five students experienced stomachache, diarrhoea and headache at about 8pm.
He said none of the students were referred to the nearby hospitals.
"The Hulu Perak District Health Department has verified that all students affected received treatment from the district health’s mobile medial team.
"Based on interviews (with the students), the chicken served had an unpleasant smell and believed that the raw chickens could have been spoiled before cooking,” he said at the Darul Ridzuan building, here, today.
Sivanesan said 10 clinical samples were taken to be analysed.
"The hostel’s canteen has been ordered to be closed for three days under the Food Act 1983 for cleaning work.
"The state Education Department is urged to take immediate action against the responsible parties while waiting for the result from the samples taken," he said.
He said he will not compromise on issues of food hygiene, especially involving students.
"This is not the first incident as there was a similar incident at the Taiping MRSM which involved 103 students in 2018.
"I have given a warning before, if food poisoning occurs, the canteen operator's contract must be terminated immediately," he said.