DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok has found herself at the centre of controversy after expressing concerns over a proposal recently revealed by Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. The proposal suggests that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork and alcohol.
Kok feared that this proposal, which caught many by surprise, could impose a heavy burden, especially financial, on businesses, including thousands of Malay restaurant operators.
In other words, the issue of affordability would weigh heavily on small businesses, in addition to the proposal being potentially harmful to Malaysia’s cultural diversity.
As a result of her statement, the DAP vice-chairperson faced backlash from both sides of the political aisle as well as from certain segments of society.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal demanded that Kok apologise and retract her statement about the mandatory halal certification proposal.
He threatened to file a police report if Kok refused to comply. Not that others hadn’t already lodged police reports against Kok, a practice that has become “trendy” in recent years.
Amanah secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil also weighed in on the issue, calling on the Seputeh MP to withdraw her statement, as he felt sensitive views should not be aired publicly.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Kok’s statement, which he noted did not reflect Pakatan Harapan’s position, was unnecessarily controversial.
He argued that Kok should not have gone public with the issue, but rather discussed it internally within the coalition.
In response, Kok rightly pointed out that she had to express her concerns publicly because Mohd Na’im raised the matter first in a public forum without consulting other MPs.
This raises the question, why didn’t Mohd Na’im discuss the proposal with his Madani colleagues beforehand to avoid unnecessary controversy?
Umno Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh also could not resist getting involved in this emotionally charged issue.
In his abrasive style, coupled with a misogynistic undertone, Akmal slammed Kok, referring to her as “Nyonya tua” (old Nyonya) for questioning the Jakim proposal.
By resorting to such name-calling, the Merlimau state assemblyman forfeited an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the discussion through a dignified dialogue.
While rabble-rousing may attract attention, it also has the potential to obscure the actual issue at hand.
Halal food is a matter taken seriously by Malay-Muslims. For many, observing halal requirements is obligatory.
However, the issue of halal certification affects not only Muslims but also non-Muslims. The genuine concerns of some non-Muslims should not be interpreted as Islamophobic.
This is why the matter deserves careful scrutiny, informed observations, and civilised conversations among all stakeholders, including non-Muslims.
In the midst of the political storm, it is refreshing to see timely interventions from individuals such as former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim, and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
In a measured manner, these individuals expressed reservations about what appears to be a rushed attempt to implement mandatory halal certification without proper research and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
It is also worth noting that Anwar‘s political secretary, Azman Abidin, who was previously a restaurateur, opposed the proposal, as he felt that mandatory halal certification would be expensive for small businesses, both Muslim and non-Muslim. Furthermore, it involves complicated requirements.
To be clear, Muslim detractors are not against halal certification per se, as halal food is generally considered an important aspect of Muslim life.
From a broader perspective, it is striking that the halal certification issue seems to have generated much more attention and outrage than the criticism against corruption that is rampant in our society.
To be clear, there is nothing “halal” about corruption, though a few politicians have attempted to legitimise this scourge, which should never be normalised.
In fact, there is even a call for mercy for certain individuals who have committed heinous crimes of dipping their hands into the public purse.
We should also be aware that while institutions like Jakim strive to ensure the halal status of food served at certain eateries, food bought with ill-gotten money cannot be easily deemed halal.
In other words, haram money used to buy halal food does not make the consumption halal.
There is more to halal than just food. – September 13, 2024.
* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.
