What wrong was done by Cenbet in saying that?
Per our previous statement concerning Cenbet, YP reiterates its condemnation of the organisation as one that has a corrosive effect on intercommunal relations in Malaysia. YP further demands that Cenbet immediately withdraw the offending statement against Jakim, and issue an immediate apology thereto. YP also reiterates that Cenbet should be investigated by the relevant authorities for furthering racial and religious tension caused by its previous press statement regarding the EPF sharia contribution scheme in June 2016 coupled with this latest statement denouncing Jakim issued by the same organisation.
The issue arose because McDonald’s Malaysia confirmed that only certified halal cakes (generally birthday cakes) would be allowed into its chain of restaurants, as per its policy of complying with guidelines issued by Jakim for Macca's halal certification.
The Young Professionals are perturbed to read the public statement of MCA-linked non-governmental organisation Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) dated 30 December 2016 criticising the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) for allegedly penalising halal-certified eateries allowing diners who bring in non-halal certified food into their premises (Cenbet: Jakim certification not for premises, The Malay Mail Online, December 30, 2016).
[...]
Such a statement is the height of the ridiculous and must be strongly condemned by all right-thinking Malaysians, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike. There can be no logical inference of any sort, and certainly by no stretch of the imagination, can the notion that prohibition of foodstuff based on the teachings of a given religion, particularly one that has been declared the religion of our federation (per Article 3(1) of our Constitution) amounts to religious segregation.
The statement also echoes a previous and similarly ludicrous, as well as contemptuous one made by the same NGO in June 2016, when the NGO laughably claimed that having a separate sharia compliant EPF contribution scheme would cause interfaith friction. YP condemned that previous statement by this NGO back then and we condemn this one in the same breadth.
The role of Jakim in our societal landscape is clear. It is a public institution catering to Muslims and their right to practice their faith in accordance with its own requirements. The institution is further authorised by His Royal Highness the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong per his oath of office to uphold the sanctity of Islam in Article 37(1) of and the Fourth Schedule to our Constitution.
I believe and agree with Cenbet that it will, that is, bring about religious and, just so because it's Malaysia where Muslims are generally Malays, racial segregation.
YP argument has been over-the-top, falling ashamedly on fantasized alleged threats to the faith of Muslims.
I had been a bit miffed with that re-iteration by Macca because it appeared that non-Muslim rights are being eroded even to an extent we can't celebrate kids' birthdays in Macca unless we order a cake that's certified halal, a symptom of JAKIM's intrusion into non Muslim lives.
Of course there is another side of the story, nay, in fact 3 sides to the story, wakakaka.
The 2nd side would be what my blog visitor Monsterball explained in another of my earlier posts Halal certification big business, where I had discussed a MM Online news saying Macca has a notice posted at one of its restaurants that said birthday cakes brought in must have an accompanying halal certification or logo.
Wow, such an uptight odious procedure by Macca, just for a cake, usually made of flour, butter, eggs, sugar and flavouring! We are NOT talking about P Ramly burgers here.
Anyway, Monsterball had then said (in his own words):
As a person who runs a number of businesses, I have to sympathise with McDonalds. One of the important regulations to preserve a Halal certified business is they must take steps to prevent their Halal status from being nullified by non-Halal food or ingredients being brought into their premises.
That is not a problem with McDonalds normally, because they don't allow outside food being consumed in their restaurants.
However, McDonalds has a significant business hosting children's birthday parties, and they don't produce their own cakes, so birthday cakes are an important exception they allow to the "No Outside Food" rule.
Its simply an iteration of a many years standing rule - McDonalds was not making any new rules.
While that seems reasonable (thanks Monsterball), would Macca have posted such a VERBOTEN notice if it had not been warned? I wonder and can only speculate, which in this country is an evil habit not to be encouraged. Shame on me.
That is not a problem with McDonalds normally, because they don't allow outside food being consumed in their restaurants.
However, McDonalds has a significant business hosting children's birthday parties, and they don't produce their own cakes, so birthday cakes are an important exception they allow to the "No Outside Food" rule.
Its simply an iteration of a many years standing rule - McDonalds was not making any new rules.
While that seems reasonable (thanks Monsterball), would Macca have posted such a VERBOTEN notice if it had not been warned? I wonder and can only speculate, which in this country is an evil habit not to be encouraged. Shame on me.
The 3rd side of the story is by a NGO calling itself Young Professionals (YP) who sent a letter to MM Online saying (extracts only):
The Young Professionals are perturbed to read the public statement of MCA-linked non-governmental organisation Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) dated 30 December 2016 criticising the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) for allegedly penalising halal-certified eateries allowing diners who bring in non-halal certified food into their premises (Cenbet: Jakim certification not for premises, The Malay Mail Online, December 30, 2016).
[...]
Such a statement is the height of the ridiculous and must be strongly condemned by all right-thinking Malaysians, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike. There can be no logical inference of any sort, and certainly by no stretch of the imagination, can the notion that prohibition of foodstuff based on the teachings of a given religion, particularly one that has been declared the religion of our federation (per Article 3(1) of our Constitution) amounts to religious segregation.
The statement also echoes a previous and similarly ludicrous, as well as contemptuous one made by the same NGO in June 2016, when the NGO laughably claimed that having a separate sharia compliant EPF contribution scheme would cause interfaith friction. YP condemned that previous statement by this NGO back then and we condemn this one in the same breadth.
The role of Jakim in our societal landscape is clear. It is a public institution catering to Muslims and their right to practice their faith in accordance with its own requirements. The institution is further authorised by His Royal Highness the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong per his oath of office to uphold the sanctity of Islam in Article 37(1) of and the Fourth Schedule to our Constitution.
It sounds on the surface as reasonable, but I beg to disagree with YP on its point of disagreement with Cenbet argument that prohibition of foodstuff based on the teachings of a given religion ... amounts to religious segregation.
I believe and agree with Cenbet that it will, that is, bring about religious and, just so because it's Malaysia where Muslims are generally Malays, racial segregation.
That's because if I am holding a kid's birthday at a F&B outlet, it definitely won't be at Macca. Mind, this is NOT a boycott of Macca which I will still patronize for a burger and fries, but I won't go to the extent of sourcing a birthday cake complete with halal certification.
That's too much hassle, so in a way, in protecting Muslim dietary restrictions, non-Muslims are being disadvantaged.
The annoying thing is JAKIM has pushed the halal thing to the point of ridiculousness, absurdity and nausea, as evidenced by the hotdog-hot sausage nonsense which even Muslim ministers scoffed at - that has been how ridiculous JAKIM was and I bet still is, thus YP defence of JAKIM is untenable in some regards, especially in the Macca birthday cake nonsense.
If non-halal certified birthday cakes is brought into Macca, will that contaminate the food stuff prepared by Macca? No non-Muslim taking a non-halal certified birthday cake into Macca is threatening Muslims and their right to practice their faith in accordance with its own requirements.
But OTOH, JAKIM's imposition of its halal rule with regards to Macca is threatening, wait, has already threatened non-Muslim rights to enjoy a kiddy birthday with a birthday cake (but not halal certified) in that outlet.
Non-Muslims are not like the Alvivi Duo who slyly advocated to Muslims to partake of bah-kut-teh. But JAKIM has been relentless in its "agenda" as seen in the hot sausage ridiculousness and other nonsense. And we taxpayers are funding such a oppressive and ridiculous department to the equally ridiculous tune of RM1 Billion per annum.
I just long for the days when my late dad and his Malay and Indian mates (my 'Uncles') had tea together without any JAKIM in existence then.
To end my frustration at the incremental erosion of non-Muslim rights, I draw your attention to the YP letter to MM Online, in its last paragraph in which YP wrote (note my highlighted parts):
To end my frustration at the incremental erosion of non-Muslim rights, I draw your attention to the YP letter to MM Online, in its last paragraph in which YP wrote (note my highlighted parts):
Per our previous statement concerning Cenbet, YP reiterates its condemnation of the organisation as one that has a corrosive effect on intercommunal relations in Malaysia. YP further demands that Cenbet immediately withdraw the offending statement against Jakim, and issue an immediate apology thereto. YP also reiterates that Cenbet should be investigated by the relevant authorities for furthering racial and religious tension caused by its previous press statement regarding the EPF sharia contribution scheme in June 2016 coupled with this latest statement denouncing Jakim issued by the same organisation.
Investigated for making a point that Jakim halal certification should apply only to food served in F&B outlets and not food brought into the premises?
Can you see the obvious DNA of YP?
did JAWI protect or persecute her? where was YP then? |