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Is this memo authentic? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blAprli58oc (Bakery says no Christmas greetings on cakes, in line with Jakim order)
UPDATE:
Facebook: Dear Sir,
UPDATE:
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has denied banning a bakery, which holds a halal certificate from having Christmas greetings on their cakes and other food products.
But then what is this: The department attached a statement it issued on Christmas Day in 2020 quoting its deputy director-general for operations, Datuk Abdul Aziz Jusoh, who emphasised that as long as such greetings are not meant for display in halal-certified premises or on a product with halal labelling, they are permissible. Isn't this contradictory? I must be a moron not to understand this!!!
Jakim clarifies claim by bakery on 'Merry Christmas' greeting on cakes
By Hakim Mahari - December 17, 2023 @ 10:47am
Jakim has denied banning a bakery, which holds a halal certificate from having Christmas greetings on their cakes and other food products. - NSTP file picKUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has denied banning a bakery, which holds a halal certificate from having Christmas greetings on their cakes and other food products.
In a statement issued on their official Facebook, Jakim said all halal certificate holders face no such restrictions, including any celebratory greetings on cakes or similar items.
It also clarified that the issue was addressed on Dec 25, 2020, and on Nov 1 this year, and that it has been maintaining a consistent stance on the matter.
"One again, we must inform that there are no restrictions for premises holding the Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM) to write anything related to a festive greeting on cakes and other things.
"Jakim encourages the public to seek clarification from the department or the respective state Islamic departments or councils (Jain/Main) if any confusion arises regarding Malaysia's halal certification," it said in the statement today.
The department attached a statement it issued on Christmas Day in 2020 quoting its deputy director-general for operations, Datuk Abdul Aziz Jusoh, who emphasised that as long as such greetings are not meant for display in halal-certified premises or on a product with halal labelling, they are permissible.
"There are no provisions that address any festivities, let alone Islamic festivities, under the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020 and the Malaysian Halal Management System.
"These guidelines are binding only to applicants and holders of Malaysia Halal Certification (SPHM)," he had said in that previous statement.
Jakim's statement comes in response to a recent social media uproar surrounding the alleged prohibition of the 'Merry Christmas' greeting on cakes.
A notice was circulated recently on the X platform (previously Twitter), indicating that employees at Berry's Cake House here were prohibited from incorporating the word "Christmas" or its variations to decorate seasonal cakes, even upon customer requests.
Its employees verified the matter, saying that they were barred from writing "Merry Christmas" or "Xmas" on its upcoming Christmas-themed cakes.
However, they were not informed of the reason behind this confounding decision, introduced only this year.
In response, the bakery chain defended itself, citing it had no choice but to adhere to the ruling by Jakim or risk losing its halal certificate, as reported by local media.
Berry's Cake House operations manager Daniel Teoh had been accused of being racist for not allowing Christmas greetings on its cakes. - NST
Berry’s issues no ‘Christmas’ or ‘X’mas’ messages on its cakes?
Our Stand: No News Is Bad News does not question Jakim on how it implements or regulates the issuance of Halal Certificates. It is their absolute right. Period. But we do object businesses that support Jakim to curb the rights of non-Muslims. It is, therefore, the right of non-Muslims to react by boycotting such businesses that place Halal Certificates above the rights and freedom of non-Muslims in multi-racial-religious Malaysia.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16, 2023: The above memo, purportedly issued by the management of Berry’s Cake House Sdn Bhd, is now circulating in social media.
The authenticity of the memo has not been verified by No News Is Bad News, but if it is not authentic, then it is a serious matter for Berry to act immediately by lodging a police report and clarify the matter immediately.
Meanwhile, multi-racial-religious Malaysians must act against such racial and religious bigotry individuals and business managements.
And the best way for the rakyat (people) to save multi-racial-religious Malaysia from such bigots is to boycott all such business managements.
In the above case, Berry allegedly banned its staff from writing the words “Merry Christmas” or “Merry X’mas” on its cakes.
For Berry’s information:
> IT is the absolute right of customers/consumers to want whatever message (provided it is decent) they want to be written on cakes;
> THE use of halal bakery cream or sugar or ingredients to write messages on cakes does not make cakes halal or non-halal; and
> SUCH fanatical religious impositions are simply bigotry, highlighting the difficulties in combating prejudice and bigotry in Malaysia; and
> POLICE must act against those who use racial and religious bigotry to undermine and threaten national unity and harmony.
Malaysians who love and treasure national unity and harmony must start fighting back against such bigots by boycotting their businesses. Blacklist all such businesses and stop patronising such outlets forever to teach them a painful lesson.
It will surely deal a death blow to the earnings of such businesses, even to the extent of forcing them to close down.
In this case, there are tens of thousands of cake houses in Malaysia, why continue to support bigoted businesses.
This is the information you get on Berry from Google:
BERRY'S CAKE HOUSE SDN. BHD. (MALAYSIA)
Main Activities: Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing
Full name: Berry'S Cake House Sdn. Bhd.Profile Updated: October 16, 2022
Buy our report for this company MYR 125Most recent financial data: 2021Available in: EnglishDownload a sample report
Berry'S Cake House Sdn. Bhd. is a company based in Malaysia, with its head office in Subang Jaya. It operates in the Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing industry. It was first established on September 13, 1994. The latest financial highlights indicate a net sales revenue increase of 2.19% in 2021. Over the same period, its total assets grew by 10.67%. The net profit margin of Berry'S Cake House Sdn. Bhd. increased by 0.82% in 2021.
Headquarters
No. 19 (1St Floor) Jalan Usj 10/1E 47610 Subang Jaya Selangor
Subang Jaya; Selangor; Postal Code: 47610
Contact Details: Purchase the Berry'S Cake House Sdn. Bhd.
No News Is Bad News reproduces blow a MalaysiaNow news report on Jakim's stand on the matter:
The 'Merry Christmas' greeting has been the subject of contention before but this is the first time it has emerged that the greeting could affect a product's official halal status.
December 24, 2020 4:46 PM
The seasonal greeting of 'Merry Christmas' has been the subject of contention for some time now.
The government’s halal authority today said the use of “Merry Christmas” on products would invalidate their halal certification, in a statement that is likely to reignite a debate on policies seen as regressive to Malaysia’s multicultural identity.
A spokesman for the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) confirmed to MalaysiaNow the existence of such a condition before a company is awarded halal certification, following an incident reported by a member of the public.
MalaysiaNow earlier reported about a bakery which could not fulfil a customer’s request for “Merry Christmas” to be written on a cake he had ordered for delivery to a friend.
Instead, the cake was delivered with the words “Happy Holidays”.
The bakery owner said it was because he had to abide by the rules set by Jakim as part of the application process for getting halal certification.
“The bakery was not wrong as it is part of the regulations,” an officer from Jakim’s communications unit told MalaysiaNow.
He cited a labelling rule stated in Jakim’s manual on the procedures leading towards halal certification.
“Labelling and advertising of products and services should not involve the use of any religious or spiritual passage, symbol or noun such as the names of Allah, sunnah, idols and the like,” according to the document sighted by MalaysiaNow.
The “Merry Christmas” greeting has been a subject of debate in Malaysia, with some Muslim preachers claiming Muslims are prohibited from using the expression as it is a veneration of Christ.
But this is the first time it has emerged that the greeting could also affect a product’s official halal status.
Bakery says no Christmas greetings on cakes, in line with Jakim order
Cake house manager Daniel Teoh said the bakery is at risk of losing its halal certification if it does not follow the rule.
Predeep Nambiar - 16 Dec 2023, 11:01pm
A Jakim statement says premises with halal certificates may not put cakes with Christmas greetings on public display. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: A bakery chain accused of being racist for not allowing Christmas greetings on its cakes has said it is merely abiding by a rule set by Jakim, the Islamic development department.
Berry’s Cake House operations manager Daniel Teoh said the bakery had no choice but to adhere to the ruling or risk losing its halal certificate.
“But we are now being accused as racist, when we are not. We are merely following orders,” he told FMT after being asked about an internal memo that had gone viral.
“We are not simply doing this (prohibiting Christmas greetings). What would happen if they (Jakim) suddenly audit us? They would revoke our halal certificate,” he said.
However, religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said this evening that there are no restrictions on festive greetings on cakes for customers to take home.
He said he has asked Jakim to clarify the matter immediately, The Star reported. A video would also be produced.
The memo, from Teoh to bakery staff, told employees to refuse any requests to decorate cakes with Merry Christmas or Xmas greetings. Instead, customers were to be given an option of placing a Season’s Greetings cake topper.
An image of the internal memo that was shown to a customer who had confronted an employee.
According to a Jakim statement issued in December 2020, premises with halal certification are allowed to place festive greetings on products if the goods was not meant to be put on display.
Products with the halal logo which are meant for display also may not bear such greetings, the statement said.
Teoh said his memo was meant for internal use, but a staff member who was confronted by a customer had shown his letter to them in defence.
He said Berry’s had followed Jakim’s rules strictly, and also referred to Jakim before releasing any product for sale.
In 2020, then religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad said Christmas greetings would not void any halal certification by Jakim. He said it was only wrong for cake shops to put on public display items bearing Christmas greetings.
However, any request to have greetings piped on cakes ordered by customers was all right, he had said.
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