Food buyers at Batu Gajah stall told to undergo health check

People who bought food at a stall near factories in Batu Gajah yesterday were urged to go to the hospital nearby for a health check as the food could be tainted by a chemical poison.

State Health, Public Transport, Non-Muslim Affairs, National Integration and New Village Committee chairperson Mah Hang Soon said, to date, 37 people were suspected to experience poisoning after eating at the stall in Siputeh which had since been ordered closed.

"The victims were found to have consumed food tainted with organophosphate. Nevertheless, further investigations at the nearby factories will be carried out.

"I urge those who have bought food at the stall and are experiencing symptoms (of poisoning) and also those who are not ill, to seek examination and treatment at the nearby hospital," he told reporters after visiting the victims of food poisoning at the Batu Gajah Hospital (HBG) today.

Mah said assistance from the police had been sought to track down all food buyers at the stall so that they could be given examinations.

As of yesterday, 37 people - comprising 30 men and seven women, aged two to 71 years old - were treated at HBG after they vomited and had diarrhea, believed to be from food poisoning.

Twenty-four victims were discharged in the evening on the same day, nine were still being treated at HBG and four critical cases were being treated at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.

Mah also refuted claims - which previously went viral on WhatsApp - that the food poisonings were caused by a gas leak at a factory and had resulted in deaths.

He pointed out that an inspection by the Fire and Rescue Department in the area near the stalls did not find any gas leak.

- Bernama