Enforcement officers with added skills in the kitchen are among those recruited by the Segamat Municipal Council as undercover operatives to nab Muslims caught eating, especially at food stalls throughout the municipality.

MPS president Mohd Masni Wakiman reportedly said the council has identified up to 32 “dark-skinned” officers who will work undercover as cooks and waiters among 185 licensed food premises to identify those not fasting.

Among them, according to the New Straits Times (NST), two officers were experts at making roti canai, mee mamak and tea.

“There are 185 licensed stalls and food outlets under MPS at 15 locations. These include Segamat, Bandar Putra IOI, Segamat Baru, Jalan Segamat Muar, Taman Yayasan, Buloh Kasap, Jementah, Batu Anam and Bandar Utama.

“We have specially selected enforcement officers who are dark skinned for the undercover job. They sound convincing when they speak in Indonesian and Pakistani lingo, so that customers will believe they are hired to cook and serve meals, and take menu orders.

“Once the order is sent, the enforcement staff will secretly capture the image of the individual or group of people enjoying the food, and immediately contact the Segamat Islamic Religious Council,” Masni was quoted saying by the NST.

The MPS president said the council was taking this step as it did not wish to be seen to be complacent in handling the issues of Muslims eating openly during the fasting month.

He said this was disrespectful to Islam and reflected badly on the council as the food stalls concerned are under its “supervision”.