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Jakim has no jurisdiction over non-Muslims. Period.
Update
Cabinet rejects mandatory halal cert proposal, says report
-18 Sep 2024, 07:16 PM
A source reportedly says the Cabinet has agreed that halal certification for restaurants and food companies will continue to be on a voluntary basis.
The government has no plans to make it mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork or alcohol to be halal-certified, according to a report in a Chinese newspaper.
PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has rejected the proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork or alcohol, according to Sin Chew Daily.
A report by the Chinese newspaper quoted a source as saying that the Cabinet unanimously agreed to keep the halal certification on a voluntary basis.
The government will not force operators to apply for halal certification. It will be up to the operators themselves to decide whether they want to do so, the source said.
The source said eateries that wished to attract more Muslim customers could consider applying for the halal certificate, but reiterated that the government has no intention to make it mandatory. by
On Sept 5, religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said the Malaysian Islamic development department (Jakim) was considering a proposal to make halal certification a requirement for restaurants that do not serve pork or alcohol.
DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok opposed the move, saying it could impose significant burdens on small businesses, restrict consumer freedom and clash with Malaysia’s cultural diversity.
While DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook defended the Seputeh MP’s remarks, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, said Kok’s views on the matter were her own and did not represent the coalition’s stance.
Kok’s comments also drew the ire of several quarters, including Umno Youth, Bersatu Youth and the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia, while the police are also probing her over her remarks.
Nonetheless, Umno president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that non-Muslim business operators could not and should not be forced to obtain halal certification.
After meeting two senior Jakim officers by chance last week, Kok said the controversy surrounding the proposal was simply due to a misunderstanding by various parties.
Stop imposing Islamic matters on non-Muslims
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18, 2024: There is this open letter to Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim penned by Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy.
The letter is being circulated in social media and is self explanatory.
Below is the open letter to the PM:
OPEN LETTER TO YAB PM
YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim
Perdana Menteri
Pejabat Perdana Menteri
Blok Utama, Bangunan Perdana Putra
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 PUTRAJAYA
10th September 2024
Dear YAB Dato Seri’,
RE: MADANI GOVERNMENT’S USE OF SEDITION ACT TO SILENCE CRITICS.
MUSLIM RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS MINISTER’S PROPOSAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AND AGREED BY CABINET TO AVOID CURRENT CONTROVERSY.
LAWS AND REGULATIONS SHOULD NOT INFRINGE ARTICLE 8
FEDERAL CONSTITUTION
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
At the outset, this letter is not intended to offend any particular religion, their personal beliefs, or the position of Islam in Malaysia. The purpose of this letter is to bring the attention of your government to the feelings of the 40% non-Muslim population in this country. As the custodian of justice and equality, your government has a crucial role in ensuring fair treatment for all citizens, irrespective of race and religion. They deserve to be heard and their concerns considered, as this is vital for our nation's unity and prosperity.
The unnecessary police investigation against DAP MP Teresa Kok for urging the government to review a proposal to impose halal certification on eateries not serving pork and alcohol has once again raised the question of whether your Madani government is serious about actual reforms and uniting Malaysians to prepare for global challenges instead of scoring points on petty issues that divide the people and cause hatred and distrust against one another.
The unilateral declaration of a PKR religious affairs minister without consultation with government partners creates the perception of an attempt to seize the role of championing Muslim issues away from UMNO which is part of this unity government.
Freedom of expression is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, and all Malaysians are entitled to speak up when their rights are infringed upon. It is the duty of the government, and in this case, your Madani government, to ensure that government policies promote the true spirit of unity and co-existence envisaged by our forefathers. After all, we celebrated 67 years of Merdeka with a "Malaysia Madani Jiwa Merdeka" theme just ten days ago. Instead of trying to champion a narrow cause to win the next elections, the Madani government should champion peaceful co-existence, nation-building, economic and democratic reforms, and take proactive measures to unite all Malaysians as a single Malaysian race and instil hope for a harmonious future. That would be appreciated as true reforms.
Mr. Prime Minister, your election manifestos have clearly stated that if PH forms the government, you will abolish the Sedition Act, which you yourself previously termed an archaic law—a legacy of British rule.
I have carefully scrutinized the Minister in charge of Islamic religious affairs statement. He is reported as saying in themalaysianreserve.com;
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is exploring a proposal that would require halal certification for restaurants and food businesses that do not serve pork or alcohol.
“At present, there are no laws requiring restaurant operators or food companies to obtain halal certification.
“To mandate that all (restaurants) have halal certification, several acts or laws will need to be amended. Many agencies will need to be involved in enforcing this,”
Mohd Na’im suggested the Muslim community to be proactive in verifying halal status of restaurants through platforms like the Halal Malaysia Portal, thereby increasing consumer awareness and pressure on operators. (emphasis mine)
At no point did the Minister say that his proposal was being considered for Muslim eateries only.To make matters worse, the Minister seem to be inciting the Muslim community into putting pressure on business operators to compel them to obtain halal certification.
I now wonder who should be investigated for sedition in the first place.
It is a fact that Malaysia’s tolerance towards religious issues has diminished drastically compared to 40 years ago. While religion is a sensitive matter in our country, it must not be forgotten that this sensitivity cuts across all religious groups.
I don’t think there has been any kind of objections from Non-Muslims in this country towards the halal requirements for restaurants serving food for the Muslims.
However, it is natural for non-Muslims to feel uncomfortable and raise their objections when Muslim halal conditions are imposed upon their businesses. The Minister's suggestion is clearly an infringement and encroachment into the legitimate businesses and lives of non-Muslims, causing them undue stress and uncertainty. Didn't this government and previous governments assure Malaysians that Muslim laws would be confined to the Muslim community alone?
The statement by the Minister in charge of Islamic affairs has caused alarm and anxiety among non-Muslim businesses. Many wonder where this encroachment into their affairs will end. Could it be extended to all provision shops selling food items like rice and vegetables next and beyond?
This potential extension of the rule to other businesses not selling pork and alcohol is a serious concern that needs to be considered in the larger interest of nationbuilding, peaceful co-existence, and developing trust and unity among Malaysians.
Hence, it is natural that non-Muslims would raise objections. To then dismiss their natural objections as 3R issues and sensitivities of Muslims is not only unfair but also unconscionable. To add insult to injury, the PDRM opens investigation papers against well-founded grievances of legitimate citizens. There is a clear pattern that these investigations are often one-sided, while sensitive issues that affect nonMuslims are often ignored by PDRM, causing a sense of resentment and contempt among the non-Muslim community towards the authorities and their independence.
The question lingering amongst many Malaysians is whether the Minister in charge for Islamic affairs has been given a free pass to bulldoze and formulate any regulations he deems appropriate to “seize” the Malay vote bank without consulting other partners in the government. Wasn't the unity minister consulted? It is strange that as the Prime Minister, you seem to suggest that those who raise objections have committed sedition and they should instead use the proper channel. The term 'proper channel' is archaic- used by your previous political opponents to which you previously objected.
While the general elections are not expected for another three years, there seems to be a race between Malay political parties as to which party would be the first to jump into championing the slightest issue that would win “the heart” of the Malay voters. Politicians provoke the sentiment on Malays and cause anxiety among them in the slightest issue involving race and religion when, generally, ordinary Malaysians are united and prefer to co-exist in peace and harmony.
The strange situation in Malaysian politics is the very people involved in inciting hatred makes police reports, and those who raise legitimate issues are "intimidated" by the Royal Police Force with investigations even when it is plainly clear before everyone that the matter at hand is being politicized and causes alarm to the minority communities.
Would your government please consider the importance of holding dialogues and discussions in the cabinet before announcing policies and regulations that could potentially cause alarm and anxiety among Malaysians? This approach would not only ensure that all perspectives are considered but also foster a sense of inclusivity and transparency in governance.
Thank you.
Yours in service,
Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy
President
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