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A food stall operator in Langkawi has lodged a police report after a social media post claiming a customer found what appeared to be a dead baby rat in a bowl of laksa went viral online
The operator of Warung Dtanjung Semilang in Kampung Kuala Temonyong Mukim has denied serving contaminated food, insisting that no such incident has occurred throughout the stall's 11 years in business.
The controversy began after a social media user uploaded photos alleging that a foreign object resembling a baby rat was discovered in a serving of laksa purchased from the eatery.
The individual later shared a 19-second video to support the claim, triggering widespread discussion online.
According to a police report lodged on 17 June, the stall operator said a man visited the eatery on 16 June at about 4.20pm and purchased takeaway Thai-style kway teow soup and Laksa Sarang.
The woman claimed the same man returned at around 5.30pm, alleging that a rat had been found in the laksa he had purchased earlier.
She said the matter was then handled by her husband, who denied that the stall had served laksa containing a rat, maintaining that all food is checked before being served to customers.
Despite disputing the allegation, the operator said the stall gave the man RM50 so that he could take his mother to a clinic for a medical check-up
According to the report, the family told the customer they would take responsibility if any issue was proven to have originated from food served at their stall.
The operator added that at about 7.20pm on the same day, another customer contacted her via WhatsApp to inform her that the allegation had begun circulating on Threads.
She claimed the viral post had been uploaded by someone she did not know.
In a subsequent social media post, the operator thanked members of the public who had offered support and prayers following the incident.
She also clarified that the man who initially complained at the stall was not the same individual who later made the online allegation.
According to her, she does not know whether the two individuals are connected.
In her public statement, the operator raised several questions about the claim
She pointed out that the food had been purchased as takeaway, arguing that any foreign object allegedly present in the laksa should have been visible when the gravy was poured out at the stall.
She also questioned the condition of the object shown in the viral images.
According to her, the laksa gravy is kept continuously hot throughout business hours, making it difficult to believe that an animal submerged in the soup would remain in the condition shown in the photographs.
The operator added that the stall had recently undergone a health department inspection and passed without issue.
