DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul announced that he will make a decision on Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali once she submitted a written explanation of her allegedly misleading remarks linking the Menu Rahmah’s food quality to cancer and autism.
In response to a question posed by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii on the matter, Johari told the Dewan Rakyat today (Feb 22) that he had written to Dr Halimah to get her side of the story on the issue.
“As soon as I get the answer from her, I will make a decision,” he said.
Dr Halimah also stood up to insist that she did not utter the words “Menu Rahmah” while debating the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat last week.
The Speaker then asked all parties to calm down and appealed to them to await his decision.
During the Feb 14 Dewan Rakyat sitting, Dr Halimah was reported as saying: “I have no issues with the ‘Rahmah’ concept or anything, but don’t let the B40 be served low-quality food that could expose them to the risks of cancer, autoimmune disease, and autism, among others.”
Her remarks had drawn flak from various quarters, including Dewan Negara Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi as well as the Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (AIDA) and Autism Initiatives Malaysia-High (Aim-High), among others.
In her statement, Ras Adiba said Dr Halimah’s statement is “not based on facts or scientific data” and has given the wrong impression to the public.
She also said that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disability that causes problems in language, behavioural and speech development involving children and was not a physical disease.
In a joint statement with Aim-High, AIDA pointed out that it was “irresponsible for [Dr] Halimah, who is a medically-trained doctor, to make statements that invite further stigma to the autistic community”.
Aim-High, meanwhile, said that Dr Halimah’s comments were “irresponsible and invalidating” for the autistic community as autistic people are “born this way” and that it is “not due to our food consumption”.
Menu Rahmah was launched on January 31 by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub as part of the unity government’s short-term efforts to mitigate the inflation squeeze on low-income earners.
Around 12,000 premises are currently offering Menu Rahmah, including restaurants affiliated with the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association, the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association, Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association and Mydin supermarket outlets nationwide. – Feb 22, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
