KUALA LUMPUR – The “Fuiyoh! It’s Uncle Roger” restaurant in Pavillion here would have to wait three months before being able to qualify for halal certification, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said in a statement today.
The restaurant is owned by comedian and Youtuber Nigel Ng, who is famous for his persona “Uncle Roger” – a harsh critic of all things fried rice.
Companies which intend to apply for halal certification, Jakim said, must comply with the Malaysian Halal Certification (Domestic) Manual 2020 (MHCM 2020), which states that businesses must first operate for at least three months.
“Based on the conditions and criteria mentioned, the Fuiyoh! It’s Uncle Roger eatery that just began operations is not qualified (yet) to obtain halal certification,” the statement said.
Jakim’s comments came after the entertainment portal Oh My Media wrote an article with the headline “Jakim cepat sikit, kenapa lama sangat” (Faster Jakim, what’s taking so long).
The article was based on a viral video featuring Ng saying the line. Jakim labelled the video as “provocative and invited misunderstanding” regarding the halal certification process in Malaysia.
“Jakim urges those responsible for the video to correct their statements on the matter.
“We urge and welcome everyone to come to our department to obtain information regarding halal certification,” the statement added.
Ng, known for his comedic alter-ego, opened his first-ever restaurant in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on September 11.
Its grand opening saw customers queuing up over three hours.
Famous for reviewing fried rice cooking videos on the internet, the same dish in his restaurant costs RM16 without add-ons.
In a KL Foodie video on Instagram, Ng, who was in his Uncle Roger persona, was asked if his restaurant was halal certified and replied he had made an application and asked Jakim to speed up the process. – September 28, 2024