JOHOR BAHRU, July 30 -- All food outlets and restaurants must now achieve a minimum four-star rating for their toilets before they can renew their business licences with the local authority here.

The Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) move, which affects 7,435 food premises within the district, is part of a wider campaign to improve public hygiene standards.

Johor Bahru Mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the council has approved an implementation paper to establish a toilet cleanliness standard, dubbed "Bersih, Menawan dan Wangi" (BMW) - Clean, Charming, and Fragrant - as a mandatory condition for business licence renewals.

"This campaign, effective this year, encourages premise operators to ensure their toilets are always clean and meet ...