AS the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JJAKIM) contemplates making halal certification mandatory for non-Muslim-owned pork/alcohol-free food & beverage (F&B) chain, a social media influencer has questioned if such move should be made across-the-board to include Muslim-owned eateries as well.
Responding to a tweet that Muslim eateries do not need a halal certification, Abah (@chairmanGLC) highlighted the filthy kitchen of a tomyam outlet in Bukit Katil, Melaka that made headlines after it was raided by the state health department in October 2019.
“To those wondering, this shop was compounded in 2019. No clue what the status is after that,” he penned on the X platform.
Kedai tomyam di Bukit Katil Melaka https://t.co/eJ8lOZauBA pic.twitter.com/lccctP2f0g
— Abah (@chairmanGLC) September 3, 2024
The eye-opener by Abah let to many commenters lamenting that not only the mamak restaurants but Malay food operators, too, have the tendency to flout the law.
“That’s why you need a halal certificate. When asked if they’ve a a halal certification, they claimed that we are jealous,” revealed one netizen.
“This is what we see, not to mention those food traders who cook in their homes. If the food is not sold, they keep it for 2-3 days. It’s really unfortunate that these people don’t deserve our support.”
Some commenters went on to ponder the concept of halalan-toyyiban which transcends what is construed as halal.
While the latter implies compliance with fundamental Syariah parameters, the former goes beyond those fundamentals to invoke enhanced features that make something good, pure and wholesome.
As one commenter concluded, “the Deputy Prime Minister has mentioned in the Parliament that more non-Bumiputera F&B owners possess halal certification that their Bumiputera counterparts”.
For the record, JAKIM had on Tuesday (Sept 3), confirmed that six popular F&B outlets regularly patronised by Muslims were not halal-certified.
It listed Johnny’s, Black Canyon, Dolly Dim Sum, Mr Dakgalbi, Bungkus Kaw Kaw, and Ayam Penyet Best (except for four outlets) as not having halal certificates. – Sept 6, 2024
Main image credit: Oh Bulan!
