The Segamat Municipal Council (MPS) has denied reports that its officers are going undercover as cooks and waiters to nab Muslims caught eating during the fasting month.

In a statement this afternoon, the council also denied that its president, Mohd Wasni Wakiman, had issued statements on such operations to the press.

"Referring to the Malay Mail and Harian Metro reports dated today, MPS has never issued such a statement.

"MPS also denies news reports that claim that such remarks were made by the president himself," read the statement.

Commenting further, the council said it has never conducted any undercover operation to spy on or nab Muslims who do not fast during Ramadan as stated in the news reports.

"It is out of MPS' jurisdiction. For information, for business licences which were issued out, there are no time constraints imposed on businesses to operate during the fasting month."

Earlier today, news portals had picked up a New Straits Times (NST) report that claimed MPS enforcement officers – skilled in making roti canai, mee mamak, and tea among others – will disguise themselves as cooks and waiters and deploy themselves among the 185 licensed food premises in the municipality to nab Muslims caught eating.

"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 customers will believe they were hired to cook and serve meals and to take menu orders.

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

The MPS president was also quoted as saying that the council was doing this as it did not wish to be seen as complacent in handling the issues of Muslims eating openly during the fasting month.