IS IT true that the recent halal certification controversy was a result of misunderstanding between various parties?

In a chance meeting between some senior officials of the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) and six-term Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in the Parliament yesterday (Sept 12), it was agreed by both parties that the current controversy would not have erupted without the misunderstanding.

In response to JAKIM’s statement on the need for mandatory halal certification, Kok opposed it by saying that such certification would create problems for non-Malay restaurants that serve pork and alcohol.

She further added that such certification would subject Malaysia to ridicule in the eyes of the foreigners.

This led to Kok’s response to the statement by JAKIM considered a breach of the 3Rs - race, religion and royalty - which resulted in 50 police reports lodged against her nationwide.

It was reported that the police have submitted their investigation papers to the Attorney- General (AG) for further action.

Eventually, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not pleased with the open remark by Kok. He felt she should have raised the matter internally.

Make it voluntary

Since there is an open admission on the part of Kok and JAKIM officials that the halal certification controversy was a result of misunderstanding, is the former agreeable to change her earlier stand?

Does she still maintain her stand that halal certification might be harsh on non-Malay and small and medium Malay restaurants?

Since there is admission that both Kok and JAKIM might have erred the matter of halal certification, are the police willing to drop the investigation and advise the AG accordingly?

There might have been misunderstanding between both the parties but such misunderstanding does not invalidate Kok’s argument to say the least.

The introduction of mandatory halal certification might create undue problems for both non-Malay and small and medium Malay restaurants. Furthermore, without a mandatory halal certification, are restaurants considered clean and healthy?

Despite the merits of halal certification, there are costs that must be borne by restaurants. Halal certification is not an easy matter to be implemented. Some non-Malay restaurants with halal certification are even finding it difficult to attract Muslim customers.

The issue is not so much halal certification or its absence but the ethnicity of the owners of the restaurants.

Even if mandatory certification is implemented, it would not be possible for non-Malay or non-Muslim restaurants to attract Muslim customers. I believe that halal certification should be based on voluntarism rather than compulsory enforcement.

As there are enough of divisive racial and religious issues in the country, why the need to add on to them? - Sept 13, 2024

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. 

https://focusmalaysia.my/is-there-really-misunderstanding-between-teresa-kok-and-jakim-over-halal-certification/