Doesn’t Teresa Kok have every right to protect interest of non-Muslim F&B players affected by halal certification?

Doesn’t Teresa Kok have every right to protect interest of non-Muslim F&B players affected by halal certification?

WHILE it is understandable for DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok to come under fire from opposition lawmakers for objecting to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department’s (JAKIM) mooting of a mandatory halal certification for alcohol/pork-free eateries, the emotional condemnation of her by UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is grossly uncalled for.

While Kok voiced her opposition to the proposal brought forth by Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Na’im Mokhtar with decency and in a constructive manner, the rightist Akmal rebutted the six-term Sepueh MP by insulting her as Nyonya Tua (literally Old Lady) and “don’t you dare to touch our religion”.

“This halal certificate is not only for alcohol and pork but also encompasses the preparation of food and sourcing of resources… this certificate can now be obtained in as short a period as 23 days unlike months previously,” the Merlimau state assemblyman reacted in a Facebook video.

“So, what’s your problem with the halal certification? It doesn’t involve you if you don’t like it. Those who brought shame to the country are MPs like you, Nyonya Tua, who never cease to disrupt peace and harmony in the country?” he slammed Kok.

“If you’ve no clue whatsoever of our religion, it’s better for you to just shut your mouth … I further appeal to the government to prepare a ‘non-halal’ icon logo to stick on the forehead of the Nyonya Tua.”

While it has been an occulta intellectus (Latin for hidden understanding) for non-Muslim lawmakers to steer clear on matters pertaining to Islam or even Malay culture/ritual for that matter, the halal certification is a special case in that – as Kok rightly pointed out – has the potential to add financial burden on small non-Muslim food & beverage (F&B) operators.

Teresa Kok 

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Kerajaan diminta mengkaji semula berkenaan penguatkuasaan Pensijilan Halal dalam Industri Makanan

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Cadangan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Agama), Datuk Dr Mohamad Naim yang ingin mewajibkan restoran dan syarikat makanan yang tidak menyajikan daging babi atau alkohol untuk mendapatkan pensijilan halal dilihat berpotensi untuk menambah beban kepada perniagaan, menghalang kebebasan pilihan pengguna, serta bertentangan dengan semangat kepelbagaian budaya di negara kita, dan mungkin menjadikan Malaysia sebagai bahan ejekan di luar negara.

Apabila kerajaan mewajibkan premis makanan mempunyai sijil halal, ia dilihat akan menambah beban kepada perniaga kecil. Walaupun banyak restoran tidak menyediakan daging babi atau alkohol, mereka tidak memohon pensijilan halal. Ini termasuklah ribuan pengusaha restoran kecil Melayu.

Pengenalan pensijilan halal secara wajib akan menambah kos pentadbiran. Pensijilan halal seharusnya bersifat sukarela, membolehkan pengusaha membuat keputusan berdasarkan permintaan pasaran, dan bukannya dilaksanakan secara paksa yang akan menambah kesukaran operasi perniagaan.

Selain itu, hak pilihan pengguna turut terjejas. Malaysia adalah negara yang terdiri daripada pelbagai bangsa dan agama. Pengguna berhak memilih sama ada untuk mengunjungi restoran yang telah disahkan halal atau tidak. Pensijilan halal secara mandatori akan menghadkan fleksibiliti perniagaan dan mempengaruhi kebebasan pilihan pengguna.

Pengawalan yang berlebihan ini bukan sahaja mengekang kebebasan pengurusan perniagaan tetapi juga tidak menghormati kehendak pengguna."

Pensijilan halal secara mandatori dilihat bercanggah dengan rangka kerja undang-undang yang sedia ada dan melanggari hak asasi dan perlindungan yang diperuntukkan oleh Perlembagaan Negara.

Malaysia pada masa ini tidak mempunyai undang-undang yang mengkehendaki restoran memohon pensijilan halal, dan pelaksanaan mandatori ini bercanggah dengan undang-undang sedia ada serta mungkin memerlukan pindaan kepada pelbagai undang-undang.

Lebih penting lagi, campur tangan ini bertentangan dengan semangat kebebasan ekonomi dan autonomi perniagaan yang sering dianjurkan oleh kerajaan, dan akan memberi kesan negatif kepada kerajaan perpaduan.

Malaysia adalah negara yang mempunyai pelbagai kaum dan budaya. Kita harus menghormati serta menghargai kepelbagaian ini, bukannya merosakkan keharmonian sosial melalui campur tangan peraturan yang tidak perlu.

Jika pensijilan halal ini diwajibkan, ia bukan sahaja akan mencetuskan reaksi negatif dalam negara, malah mungkin memalukan negara kita di peringkat antarabangsa."

Saya minta kerajaan mengkaji semula cadangan untuk mewajibkan restoran dan syarikat makanan untuk memiliki sijil halal. Kerajaan seharusnya menghormati hak autonomi perniagaan dan kebebasan pilihan pengguna, dan menumpukan usaha kepada pemulihan ekonomi serta peningkatan kesejahteraan rakyat, bukannya melaksanakan dasar pengawalan yang tidak perlu.

Kepelbagaian dan inklusiviti adalah nilai teras Malaysia yang perlu dipelihara bersama.

Teresa Kok

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All reactions:

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Additionally, it also hinders consumers’ freedom of choice as well as being against the spirit of Malaysia’s cultural diversity not to mention the ensuing polemic will make Malaysia a laughing stock abroad, according to Kok.

Even if Kok could have left it to her Muslim comrades in DAP to take up the case, the UMNO Youth head honcho – touted as the “King of Boycott” at the height of the KK Super Mart Allah inscription on sock saga – has no right to disrespect a senior politician like Kok given the notion that UMNO itself is a component of the Madani government.

In fact, it would not be an overstatement that the behaviour of the Melaka state EXCO for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security C has somehow mirrored that of his Bersatu counterpart Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who has demanded an apology from Kok as well as to retract her statement.

In fact, the Machang MP went a step further by threatening to lodge a police report against Kok for allegedly touching on sensitive issues pertaining to race, religion and royalty (3R).

Thankfully, Kok has found solace and supporter in none other than human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim’s who, too, opined that JAKIM has no authority to interfere with the rights of Muslim patrons to frequent/dine in non-Muslim-owned F&B premises.

In essence, she has this to tell the minister-in-charge:

I respect you Datuk Naim but I hope this is merely a matter of mulling and not for implementation for the bottom line is that we’re ourselves answerable in the grave to God if we wish to consume food deemed haram.

“Already there are too many self-professed gods in this world. Does JAKIM also want to play God as well? The proposal is absolutely ridiculous and outrageous.

“Pleases stop all these nonsenses. We’ve our own brain to think and we’ll do what is necessary to live in this world. How we’re going to fare in the next world is entirely up to us. Please leave us alone. Just stop all these nonsenses!

 – Sept 7, 2024