PETALING JAYA: The issue of making halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol is a matter of concern for Muslims, not non-Muslims, said PAS deputy youth chief Hanif Jamaluddin.
“The ones who should have been worried are the Muslims, who are concerned about ingesting non-halal food.
“Non-Muslims don’t have to worry about anything, and in fact, they will feel better because halal food is cleaner,” said Hanif in a Facebook post on Sunday (Sept 8).
Hanif was responding to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was merely expressing the concerns of non-Muslims when she opposed the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) proposal to make halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol.
Kok had said this could be a burden to small businesses and restrict consumer freedom. Five police reports have been lodged against Kok over her remarks, and the police have launched an investigation.
“I’m very confident that this is a DAP statement, not the statement of non-Muslims,” added Hanif.
In an earlier Facebook posting, Hanif also said Muslims are not barred from frequenting renowned local restaurant chains even if it does not possess a valid halal certificate by Jakim.
“It is not haram as long as no elements can be clearly seen as haram.
“But, Muslims are strongly encouraged to look for halal-certified food, especially brands from overseas,” said Hanif on Sept 3.
However, the Prime Minister’s political secretary, Azman Abidin, believes that Jakim should not make halal certification compulsory for restaurants that do not serve pork or alcohol.
Azman welcomes the proposal announced by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, but said that obtaining a halal certificate is often challenging.
“It is not easy to apply for the halal certification. It requires high fees and stringent requirements.
“This caused many restaurant operators and food companies, including those owned by Malays, to be disinterested in obtaining halal certification,” Azman was quoted as saying by news portal MalaysiaKini.
At the same time, Azman, who was a former restaurant operator, said that halal certificates and halal foods are two different matters.
“As an example, nearly 100% of Malay restaurants serve halal food, but over 90% of them do not have the halal certification.
“As a former restaurant operator, I understand these issues very well; therefore, I’m asking leaders to stop politicising the matter.
“The Minister (Mohd Na’im) was giving a proposal, and Kok was merely giving her opinion,” said Azman.
On Sept 3, Mohd Na'im said that several laws would need to be amended to enforce mandatory halal certification, and various agencies would need to be involved to ensure compliance.
Presently, halal certification is optional for food business operators.
