Nakhon Kitchen, a Thai eatery in Holland Village, has been suspended by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for two weeks.

According to a suspension notice on the NEA website, the licence of the eatery, located at 27A Lorong Liput Holland Village, was suspended from Monday to Oct 29.

The restaurant had accumulated 12 demerit points under the Points Demerit System over the last 12 months, along with a fine amounting to $800, for its failure to register an assistant and for rodent infestation.

According to the suspension notice, a licensee that has 12 or more demerit points over a 12-month period can be suspended for either two or four weeks, or have the licence cancelled. Food handlers will also have to attend and pass a Basic Food Hygiene course again, before they are allowed to go back to work.

The suspension notice said: "NEA takes a serious view of these offences and would like to remind food operators to observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers. NEA will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to be in violation of the Environmental Public Health Act."

Anyone who comes across poor hygiene practices can call the 24-hour NEA contact centre on 1800-225-5632 so that the agency can investigate.

According to staff at another Nakhon Kitchen outlet in Hougang, the Holland Village outlet is the only one suspended. The other six outlets are open for business as usual.

Fabian Koh