Letter to Editor
THERE is a Facebook site dedicated to exposing restaurants that do NOT have halal certification from JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development) called Halal inquiry Company direktori [sic].
It aims to alert Muslim foodies of restaurants that may not adhere to halal principles of food preparation.
OK, nothing wrong with that. In fact, it would appear to be quite a useful resource, especially for Muslim diners who care for what goes into their stomach.
However, I cannot help but notice that it is the non-Muslim-owned F&B (food & beverage) businesses that are seemingly targeted.
Recent developments have seen the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) banning the use of the ubiquitous ‘no pork, no lard’ and ‘Muslim-friendly’ wording in signage, advertising and social media sites of restaurants that do not have official halal certification.
There have also been suggestions that these food outlets even stop serving Muslim customers altogether.
Out to undermine non-Muslim F&B?
Now, correct me if I am wrong but I am frequently told that the concept of halal extends beyond merely being porcine-free. It also covers cleanliness, hygiene and the slaughtering process of the livestock.
So, this is the question that I have for Halal inquiry Company direktori [sic] – why don’t more Muslim-owned eateries fall under your beady-eyed investigations as well?
I have seen enough Muslim-owned restaurants that very obviously fail to meet the basic requirements for cleanliness and hygiene.
Cats roaming the premises. Flies feasting on uncovered food displays. Dirty looking fridge and freezers. Sound familiar? I am sure many Malaysians would have come across such establishments.
It does seem that most, if not all exposés on the halal inquiry site are thinly-disguised attacks on non-Muslim-owned eateries. The more successful they are, the more likely they will feature on the site, especially if a large segment of their clientele is Muslim.
There was even a polite enquiry on the site from a non-Muslim netizen who sought clarification on the appropriate wording to be used in signage.
This was the response from the site administrator: “Make it clear that we (the owners) are Hindus. If Muslims have confident in us, kindly enter. We’re not forcing anyone who has doubts in our non-halal raw materials to dine at our establishment.”
Yes, do read it again. Non-Muslim-owned eateries are expected to explicitly state their faith and also be not welcoming to Muslim clientele (despite they never claiming to be halal-certified in the first place).
Only in Malaysia does such exclusionary and frankly, racist tactics are allowed to exist. Isn’t this a clear attempt to prevent non-Muslim businesses from taking a slice of Muslim clientele pie?
Before anyone justifies this by saying that all that is needed is to apply for that all-important halal certification from JAKIM, the question is why this requirement does NOT apply to Muslim-owned restaurants?
Is it justifiable to argue that Muslim F&B operators are very less likely to use porcine-based raw materials or to serve alcohol at their premises?
If one dwells deeper into the comments sections of the halal inquiry site which claims to be educating Muslims on what they should be consuming, one will find all sorts of justifications and even fear-mongering.
Examples include Muslim diners being influenced by evil spirits from the mere existence of a Chinese altar at a kopitiam (yes, a pork-free one) to cross-contamination from filthy non-Muslim hands. Or don’t be conned by the sight of tudung-clad waitresses who are merely there as camouflage to entice the Muslim crowd.
Until it starts highlighting Muslim-owned businesses that fail to adhere to halal requirements, I will steadfastly believe that this site is subtly propagating a war against non-Muslim businesses by using religion as a convenient shield.
Yes, by all means, demand that restaurants that serve Muslim customers apply for the requisite certification. But don’t just insist that only non-Muslim restaurants have to do it. Make it fair, make it equitable and many more will find it a whole lot more palatable. – June 23, 2026
Inquisitive Diner
Damansara, Selangor
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Halal inquiry Company direktori/Facebook
