Zan Azlee
Published: Sep 13, 2024 4:54 PM
COMMENT | Why has the halal certification issue suddenly become a thing of such heated argument?
What perplexes me is the fact that it has turned into something that is seen as controversial and sensitive, with many of those participating in the discourse publicly invoking the 3Rs (race and religion, more specifically).
In a nutshell, it started with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar raising a suggestion that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would like to make it compulsory for restaurants that do not serve pork and alcohol to obtain halal certification.
I would say this is a fair suggestion for a body like Jakim to make.
Then, DAP MP Teresa Kok voiced concerns that this could be a heavy financial burden for businesses involved. She also stated that this wouldn’t just affect non-Muslim and non-Malay restaurateurs, but also the Malay and Muslim ones, especially so for small and medium-sized business owners.
Published: Sep 13, 2024 4:54 PM
COMMENT | Why has the halal certification issue suddenly become a thing of such heated argument?
What perplexes me is the fact that it has turned into something that is seen as controversial and sensitive, with many of those participating in the discourse publicly invoking the 3Rs (race and religion, more specifically).
In a nutshell, it started with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar raising a suggestion that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would like to make it compulsory for restaurants that do not serve pork and alcohol to obtain halal certification.
I would say this is a fair suggestion for a body like Jakim to make.
Then, DAP MP Teresa Kok voiced concerns that this could be a heavy financial burden for businesses involved. She also stated that this wouldn’t just affect non-Muslim and non-Malay restaurateurs, but also the Malay and Muslim ones, especially so for small and medium-sized business owners.
Teresa Kok
I would say that this can also be seen as a fair comment seeing that she is a representative of a constituency, and its members do have a right to voice their concerns or even request for more explanation on the issue so they can understand it better. The issue is really a simple one that can be so easily discussed in a civil and mature manner.
Instead, several other political leaders and members of the society have decided to publicly relate the concerns that Kok raised as being religiously and racially provocative. Bersatu Youth Chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal demanded an apology and also for her to retract her statement.
Amanah’s Muhammad Faiz Fadzil also asked Kok to retract her statement. So did Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who went all emotional and even used a gender and racial slur, referring to Kok as a “Nyonya Tua”. Police reports have been made against her and she is now under investigation.
Business decision
I don’t think the issue needs to be controversial or sensitive. It can even be discussed as a purely business decision if you think about it. Halal certification is a process that does require certain financial obligations as well as business operating ones and it would be a decision all business owners would have to make.
If a business owner does decide to go that route, there could be many advantages as the halal industry is a huge one, not only in Malaysia, but globally. However, there are also many business owners who decide not to be halal certified by Jakim, and that is their prerogative to do so.
Malaysians are already very familiar with the halal certification in the country, and we are confident of its processes, especially for Muslims (including myself), who are convinced that the food or products we consume that have the certification are genuinely halal because of the stringent rules and requirements.
I would say that this can also be seen as a fair comment seeing that she is a representative of a constituency, and its members do have a right to voice their concerns or even request for more explanation on the issue so they can understand it better. The issue is really a simple one that can be so easily discussed in a civil and mature manner.
Instead, several other political leaders and members of the society have decided to publicly relate the concerns that Kok raised as being religiously and racially provocative. Bersatu Youth Chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal demanded an apology and also for her to retract her statement.
Amanah’s Muhammad Faiz Fadzil also asked Kok to retract her statement. So did Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who went all emotional and even used a gender and racial slur, referring to Kok as a “Nyonya Tua”. Police reports have been made against her and she is now under investigation.
Business decision
I don’t think the issue needs to be controversial or sensitive. It can even be discussed as a purely business decision if you think about it. Halal certification is a process that does require certain financial obligations as well as business operating ones and it would be a decision all business owners would have to make.
If a business owner does decide to go that route, there could be many advantages as the halal industry is a huge one, not only in Malaysia, but globally. However, there are also many business owners who decide not to be halal certified by Jakim, and that is their prerogative to do so.
Malaysians are already very familiar with the halal certification in the country, and we are confident of its processes, especially for Muslims (including myself), who are convinced that the food or products we consume that have the certification are genuinely halal because of the stringent rules and requirements.
The halal certificate is also required to be displayed in the restaurants so that the customers and consumers can see it clearly and understand that they are patronising a halal-certified establishment. Basically, the public can make their own decisions if they want to eat at a halal-certified restaurant or not.
So, I agree with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when he stated that there is no need to stir controversy around this issue. He added that if there are suggestions or concerns surrounding the proposal, it should be brought up in a meeting and discussed thoroughly and properly.
Discuss in mature and civil way
I don’t think that public derogatory name-calling and also making unnecessary police reports should play a part in civil and mature public discourse. In the public sphere, this can spark unnecessary anger that is totally unrelated to the issue, and our leaders need to understand that their public actions and statements have consequences.
We need political leaders who are responsible and who don’t try to manipulate fair and general issues to gain political mileage or just gain some cheap attention. It is wrong for politicians to pit the Malaysian people against each other because the people of Malaysia deserve way more than that when it comes to their governance.
I truly believe that when we talk about the importance of safeguarding our country’s harmony and unity, out of everyone, the first line of people who need to take this seriously is the political and elected leaders whose words and actions in the public sphere carry the most weight and influence. They can either stoke the flames or dissipate it.
So, let me remind everyone that no matter what the issue is, there is always the possibility of discussing it in a mature and civil way, whether it be behind closed doors or in public.
We just need to take a step back and respect each other better. We also need to be less selfish and understand that we live in a multicultural and multireligious society that is really quite beautiful.
Actually, at this point, I think ordinary Malaysians should already be able to see certain public statements made whether they are genuine and civil discourse, or just plain selfish manipulation for self-interest.
So come on Malaysians, from politicians and elected leaders to ordinary citizens. We are so much better than this.
ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist and academic. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.
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