Fast Food Restaurants and Eating Houses go fast forward as Aljunied GRC Zero Litter Month Campaign Efforts Intensify

• More food handlers including McDonald and KFC pledging support and commitment for good hygiene and cleanliness habits
• Mayor Zainul Abidin Rasheed  gets pledge cards from hawkers and food handlers in Bedok Reservoir Road N’hood Centre

Singapore, Sunday 10th May 2009 – In a resolute show of support for high cleanliness and hygiene standards, restaurants from the McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food chains in Bedok Reservoir Road  will lend their support for Aljunied Town Council’s good hygiene and cleanliness campaign.

The campaign, aptly named “Good Hygiene and Cleanliness @ Aljunied GRC Markets and Food Centres” is an initiative under the umbrella of Aljunied Town Council’s Zero Litter Month 2009.

To raise public consciousness on the importance of maintaining a good standard of hygiene, the McDonald’s and KFC restaurants will adorn its outlets with colourful stickers that carry messages focused on cleanliness and hygiene. In addition, the McDonald’s restaurant will go one step further by welcoming its customers with large stickers carrying the messages on its entrance doors.

This new effort will be launched by Mayor Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, as part of Aljunied Town Council’s Zero Litter Month 2009 in the Eunos Division at the open space in front of Blk 630, Bedok Reservoir Road at 9.30am.  The Special Guest at the launch will be Madam Cynthia Phua, Chairman of Aljunied Town Council and an MP for Aljunied GRC.

On top of that, Mayor Zainul, who is also an MP for Aljunied GRC, will be presented with pledge cards from food handlers and market stall owners, hawker centres and eateries to keep good hygiene standards and observe cleanliness habits.

In recognition of the importance of cleaning personnel in the overall effort, Mayor Zainul will also be presenting awards to the best cleaners in their respective RC zones. Recipients will each receive $100 cash, in addition to a certificate of recognition for their work.

Aljunied GRC Zero Litter Month 2009 is spearheaded by Aljunied Town Council with the support of key organisations such as the National Environment Agency and various Aljunied GRC grassroots groups.

The focus for the campaign this year, taking into account the global outbreak of Influenza A (N1H1) and recent cases of food poisoning at local eateries, is on personal hygiene and cleanliness at markets, hawker centres, eateries and housing estates. Just last week on 2 May 2009, all the stallholders at the markets and food centres at Blk 209 Hougang St 21 and Blk 105 Hougang Av 1 pledged their commitment to uphold the standard of hygiene and cleanliness.

Mayor Zainul  Abidin Rasheed, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and MP for Aljunied GRC said, “ We must continue to be vigilant and not let down our guards even when the Influenza A (N1H1) alert is stepped down. Regardless of going from orange to yellow, we must stay green and clean.  Where public and personal hygiene and cleanliness are concerned, these social habits should always be part and parcel of our way of life and healthy living”