I READ with disgust the report on plastics in frying oil. Here, I wish to record what I saw at the pasar tani on Saturdays in Larkin, Johor Baru.

This has been happening since last year.

I was at a stall buying mushrooms when I saw this man at the next stall frying snacks at the back of his stall.

He was scruffy looking, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he dipped a bag of fries in the hot oil.

What was left in his hand was only the top of the bag. The rest of the bag was in the oil.

His ladle for scooping out the fried items had pieces of plastic stuck to it and so did the frying pan.

I was shocked.

He saw me watching him and commenting to the mushroom seller, yet he nonchalantly went on with his work.

I warned friends who were at the stall not to buy from him and his assistants.

My husband and I lodged a complaint with the authorities.

When the Johor Baru City Council had its open day at the same venue last year, I again brought up this issue.

A few weeks later, I received two letters of acknowledgement thanking me for the information and concern.

Both letters assured me that it would take action.

I was impressed and hopeful, but that’s as far as they got in taking any action.

To date, there has not been any change.

Every time I am at the pasar tani, this man, who is still selling there, gives me a good hard look, with a smirk on his face as he continues to do what he was doing eight months ago.

M.S.R., Johor Baru

Source: NST – March 24, 2008