22 unregistered food handlers and illegal workers arrested at Geylang Serai Bazaar

22 unregistered food handlers and illegal workers were arrested at the Geylang Serai Bazaar during a joint operation by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Police Force on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. 

The raid at the bazaar was carried out in the afternoon and the suspects who were detained were also found to be working illegally in Singapore, according to a MOM spokesperson. The agency, however, was unable to provide details about their nationality, Todayonline reported on May 30, 2017. It is also unclear which stalls the suspects were working at.

A Whatsapp message that had been circulating among Muslims claimed that the dengdeng (a type thinly sliced dried meat typically found in Indonesian cuisine) sold at the bazaar stalls was non Muis Halal-certified. 

Member of Parliament Zainal Saparai responded to a query on the Halal Café & Restaurants Facebook page seeking an update on the unknown source of the dengdeng. He said that the raid was not related to the rumours of the non Muis Halal-certified messages. 

Mr Zainal clarified: “(The raid) was a joint operations between NEA, Police and MOM. During the inspection, they found unlicensed food handlers (who) were also working illegally, which is an arrestable offence.”