Jakim tells the whole world that Muslims in Malaysia are easily confused by words like ‘hot dog’, ‘root beer’ ...

Jakim tells the whole world that Muslims in Malaysia are easily confused by words like ‘hot dog’, ‘root beer’ ...

So, Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) opines Muslims in Malaysia may think ‘hot dog’ is made from dog meat and ‘root beer’ is alcoholic beer?

Or Jakim's Little Napoleons now want to define Non-Halal (Unclean) English words at their whim and fancy?

And the equally moronic Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) has advised restauranteurs and food producers to avoid certain words, including “beer” and “dog” in their menu as it would confuse Muslims.

This is 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN)’s moderate religious Malaysia.

So, halal investors, take a serious note of doing business in Malaysia! Get Jakim’s advice first or you will live to regret your investments in Malaysia’s so-called halal industry.

Jakim’s irrational enforcement has led to criticisms and sarcastic remarks against the department from various social media network, including social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.

And this sarcasm was found posted in Facebook:

“Statutory Declaration of CHANGE OF NAME
BY
Hot Dick

I, Hot Dick , formerly known as Hot Dog, do solemnly and sincerely declare that:-

1. I absolutely and entirely renounce, relinquish and abandon the use of my former name of Hot Dog and assume, adopt and determine to take and use from the date hereof the new name of Hot Dick in substitution for my former name of Hot Dog.

2. I shall at all times hereafter, in all records, deeds, documents and other writings and in all actions and proceedings, as well as in all dealings and transactions and on all occasions whatsoever, use and subscribe my new name of Hot Dick in substitution for my former name of Hot Dog so relinquished to the intent that I may hereafter be called, known and identified by the new name of Hot Dick and not by my former name of Hot Dog .

3. I authorise and require all persons, at all times, to identify, describe and address me by my new name of Hot Dick so as not to compromise my Jakim compliance. I make this solemn declaration conscientiously, believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1935.

SIGNED and DECLARED AT
* Mahkamah Tinggi Malaysia*

*This 17 day of October 2016*

Hot Dick
________
formerly known as
Hot Dog
________

Before me,

Tan Ah Kau
_________
Solicitor/JP

Coffee, Tea and Hot Dog?
Err sorry, Hot Dick?”

Here are the details of what’s happening in moderate religious 1MDB Malaysia which is ruled by Little Napoleons:

"OH HOW STUPID ARE WE THE MALAYS TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF HOT DOGS BEFORE – MARINA MAHATHIR SLAMS JAKIM OVER ‘PRETZEL DOG’ FIASCO
Politics | October 19, 2016 by | 0 Comments



PETALING JAYA – Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir slammed the Department of Islamic Development’s (Jakim) request for pretzel store franchise Auntie Anne’s to rename its “pretzel dog”.

“Oh we poor easily confused Muslims who have never heard of hot dogs before,” said Marina on her Facebook page Tuesday.



“And [Muslims] who will have no choice but to buy one [pretzel dog] if one was on the menu,” she said.

Marina also wrote that Muslims “shouldn’t be spending money on junk food anyway”.

Auntie Anne’s did not receive halal certification because of its “pretzel dog” menu item.

The franchise has been asked by Jakim to change the name of its “pretzel dog” to “pretzel sausage”, because it cannot approve the word “dog”.

- ANN"

"Rename 'Pretzel Dog' to 'Pretzel Sausage', Malaysia's Islamic body tells Auntie Anne's

Pretzel chain Auntie Anne's has been told by Malaysia's Jakim that they need to change the name of their "Pretzel Dog" to "Pretzel Sausage" in order to receive halal certification.PHOTO: FACEBOOK/AUNTIE ANNE'S MALAYSIA

PUBLISHED

OCT 18, 2016, 5:59 PM SGT

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has recommended that pretzel store franchise Auntie Anne's change the name of its "Pretzel Dog" to "Pretzel Sausage" in order to receive a halal certification.

"It is more appropriate to use the name 'Pretzel Sausage'," said Jakim's Halal Division director Sirajuddin Suhaimee.

"The improvement process is being conducted from time to time," he said. "Malaysia's good name as a pioneering 'halal global' figure needs to be improved. To avoid this issue at the global stage, the panel has decided not to use such a name," he told The Star via WhatsApp on Tuesday (Oct 18).

In a statement earlier, Jakim clarified that the franchise had not been given the non-halal label by the body yet.

Jakim explained that Auntie Anne's food products were in the process of getting a Malaysian halal certification.

It said that this was done after some improvements to the franchise's application.

This week, Jakim's rejection of Auntie Anne's halal certification application went viral on social media and blogs, with many Muslims questioning the halal status of the food items.

In response, Auntie Anne's Quality Assurance (QA) and Halal executive Farhatul Kamilah explained in a Facebook post on Monday that a halal application had been rejected due to the "hot dog" name and administration issues.

Jakim wanted Auntie Anne's to rename the food product and reapply for the halal certification for its outlets based on zones to facilitate the auditing process.

Previously, the company had registered for halal certification for all 45 outlets under one application.

Farhatul had assured customers that Auntie Anne's is in the midst of obtaining the certification.

Muslims see dogs as being unclean and canine-related issues in Malaysia have sparked controversy in the past.

However, most Malaysians are aware that "hot dogs" and other items like "root beer" do not contain dogs or beer. - Straits Times"

"A sad day when logic goes to the dogs
October 18, 2016

If Pretzel Dogs and Root Beer can be confused by Muslims as being non-halal, pray tell what other food and beverages will face the same fate too.

COMMENT

by Sakinah Noor

It’s baffling how the religious authorities in our country believe Muslims can be so easily confused these days.

After eons of ordering “Hot Dog satu, adik!” from roadside stalls manned by Malays, it’s mind boggling how Pretzel Dogs can be confused all of a sudden as dog meat, mixed into dough, twisted and baked for human consumption by a trusted and well-loved international pretzel chain.

Yet, that is precisely what the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was concerned over when they refused halal certification for Auntie Anne’s recently.

While members of the public voiced their bewilderment at this move, the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) stepped right in to support Jakim, saying the decision was in line with the teachings of Islam and the word “dog” in the menu, was inappropriate.

Seriously?

Was this also why the religious authorities yanked beef bacon and turkey ham off the menus of local restaurants? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “bacon” is a noun meaning “Cured meat from the back or sides of a pig” and “ham” is a noun meaning: “Salted or smoked meat from the upper part of a pig’s leg.” Going by these definitions, it was therefore an oxymoron to have any such dish that claimed to be “beef bacon” or “turkey ham” unless the two actually mated in some open field unsupervised and produced a freak of nature.

Therefore, Jakim’s controversial directive on Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Dog is just one of many instances when the names of popular food and beverages that were lapped up by all and sundry before, have suddenly taken on a sinister meaning, confusing Muslims as to what its contents in reality are.

Back in 2009, the much-loved A&W Root Beer was dealt a deadly blow when Jakim refused to certify any product with the word “beer” in its name, even if it was non-alcoholic. Yes, we do know beer, which is an alcoholic beverage, is prohibited in Islam, but we also do know there is no alcohol in Root Beer. All the same, the popular drink was renamed “A&W Sarsaparilla” so its halal certificate could be renewed. Its restaurant chains across Malaysia meanwhile began calling its root beer, “RB” in 2013 – and no, not Rhythm and Blues, in case music lovers got confused and started grooving at the counter while placing their orders.

The same fate befell good old Ginger Beer sold in cans that also underwent a name change to “Ginger Ade” (we’ve heard of ale, but ade?) so that the word “beer” could be obliterated, effectively putting an end to any confusion regarding its halal status.

Out of curiosity, will this obsession with all things halal, have a spill-over effect on other merchandise that we happily purchase?

Will a popular brand of shoes have to call itself Hush, My Little Kitty in order to keep selling its merchandise undisturbed by the religious authorities? Or will Jakim know better and let sleeping dogs lie?

Already, a string of movies have faced the ban in our cinemas, simply because its posters either featured a pig, or its storyline dealt with God or his prophets, who took on a human form.

In 1995, the movie Babe, essentially a feel-good movie targeted to families with kids, was banned because it featured the antics of a pig, and the very word “Babe” could be easily mispronounced in Malay as “Babi”, meaning well… err… pig, an animal prohibited for consumption in Islam. I hope Miss Piggy too does not feel slighted that she has been downgraded to non-halal status.

In 2014, the movie Noah was banned on grounds it went against the prohibition in Islam to visually depict Muslim prophets.

But here’s the thing – does not religion, any religion for that matter, place importance on seeking knowledge? For sifting for truth among the clutter of misinformation lurking out there and using one’s capabilities to rationalise and argue and finally judge what is right and what is wrong?

While Jakim’s (and Fomca’s) intentions are well placed, they are making a mockery of the religion by taking way too many things way too literally.

The “Pork-free”, “No Pork” signs that caused so much debate and anger earlier this year is a case in point. Once again, the argument that such signs were confusing to Muslims was used to great effect and the issue of “halal” and “not halal” made into a national issue once again.

Maybe it’s time we respected people more by treating them like thinking adults instead of unsuspecting sheep led to slaughter. - FMT"

"Avoid words like ‘dog’, ‘beer’ in menu, says Fomca

Mohamad Fadli

October 18, 2016

Consumer association says such words will confuse Muslims.



PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) has said restauranteurs and food producers should avoid certain words, including “beer” and “dog” in their menu as it would confuse Muslims.

Its vice-president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman also said the business community should be more sensitive when naming their products.

He was commenting on news reports that popular pretzel chain Auntie Anne’s was denied the halal certification by the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) for several reasons, including naming one of its food items, the “pretzel dog”.

Jakim, Mohd Yusof said should also be more cautious when issuing halal certs to food producers to ensure such issues do not arise after a company obtains the certificate.

Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) lead activist Nadzim Johan echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the franchise in question ought to be mindful of the sensitivities of Muslims.

He explained that Jakim’s guidelines were in line with the teachings of Islam and would not lead to any confusion or negative perception.

The word “dog” in the menu, Nadzim said, was inappropriate.

“Jakim’s decision not to issue the halal certificate is right. Even though the food sold at the outlet is halal, an inappropriate name is not suitable. Consumers should be wary about purchasing such items.”

Yesterday Auntie Anne’s quality assurance and halal executive Farhatul Kamilah Mohamed Sazali said the popular pretzel chain had submitted several names for a food product and was now waiting for a decision from Jakim’s panel.

The ‘pretzel dog’ name, she said, had to be changed.

Once they obtain the decision from Jakim’s panel, Auntie Anne’s will change its entire menu board before proceeding with a new application.

Apart from the name change, Jakim had also demanded that Auntie Anne’s apply for halal certification for their central kitchen.

Farhatul said she had applied for the halal certification for all 45 Auntie Anne’s outlets under one application, but this was rejected as she was told by Jakim to make separate applications for each outlet."

"Even beef bacon, turkey ham not allowed, says Jakim

Khairil Ashraf

October 18, 2016

Jakim guidelines for obtaining halal certification have forced many food and beverage companies to change their product names.


PETALING JAYA: “Ham”, “bak kut teh”, “bacon”, “beer”, “rum”, “hotdog” and “charsiew”.

These are more examples of words that will cause the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) to refuse a restaurateur or food producer a “halal” certificate, according to Jakim guidelines.

Many outlets in Malaysia serve beef bacon or turkey ham.

The list of words – which the department says will confuse Muslims – has resulted in a few popular food and beverage brands in the country having to change their product names to obtain a “halal” certificate.

These include renowned fast-food restaurant chain A&W, which has rebranded the “Coney Dog” and “Root Beer” to “Chicken Coney” or “Beef Coney” and “RB” respectively.

“We had to change the names if we wanted to be eligible to apply for the halal certificate,” A&W Quality Control and Halal Assurance Assistant Manager Shahidah Wahid said when contacted.

A&W, she revealed, had made the changes two years ago.

A quick check by FMT found that canned or bottled Ginger Beer and Root Beer produced by local manufacturers are these days marketed as Ginger Ade and Sarsparilla, respectively.

The issue of “inappropriate words” for food and beverage products in Malaysia came to light again on Tuesday after it was reported that popular pretzel chain Auntie Anne’s was denied halal certification for several reasons, including having the name “pretzel dog” for one of its food items.

On Monday, Auntie Anne’s Quality Assurance and Halal Executive Farhatul Kamilah Mohamed Sazali said the popular pretzel chain had submitted several options for a food product and was now waiting for a decision from Jakim’s panel.

The “pretzel dog” name, she revealed, had to be changed to a more appropriate name, based on Jakim’s guidelines.”

Meanwhile latest reports say the franchise has been asked to change the name of its “Pretzel Dog” to “Pretzel Sausage” for halal certification.

This recommendation comes from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Star Online reported.

“It is more appropriate to use the name ‘Pretzel Sausage’,” said Jakim’s Halal Division Director Sirajuddin Suhaimee.

“Malaysia’s good name as a pioneering ‘halal global’ figure needs to be improved."