KUALA LUMPUR – DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok’s request for a review of a proposal on halal certification should not be categorised a 3R (race, religion and royalty) issue, said party chairman Lim Guan Eng.
He said the Seputeh MP was not alone in voicing out her views on the proposed policy, which was first raised by religious affairs minister Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar on September 5.
“This is not a 3R issue, as claimed by certain quarters,” Lim told a press conference outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters here after Kok had given her statement to police.
“(Individuals) from all levels of society, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim, have also expressed their views (on the suggested rule).”
Lim reiterated that DAP stands in support of Kok, who he said was merely carrying out her duties as an elected lawmaker tasked with voicing her constituents’ concerns.
“An MP should be given space to carry out their responsibilities entrusted to them by their voters…DAP will continue to stand together with (Kok),” he added.
Kok was summoned by police today to provide her statement for a Classified Criminal Investigation Unit probe into her remarks on the Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) proposal for mandatory halal certification for restaurants and food businesses, including those which do not serve pork or alcohol.
DAP lawmakers Syahredzan Johan and Ramkarpal Singh, who today were Kok’s legal representatives while she gave police her statement, said the process took nearly two hours.
Syahredzan told reporters the investigation into Kok’s remarks are being conducted under Section 298 and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.
Section 298 pertains to wounding the religious feelings of others, while Section 505 pertains to statements conducing to mischief. Section 233 of the CMA is on improper use of network facilities.
Meanwhile, Kok reiterated to the media here that she is not opposing Jakim and the government’s efforts to promote halal certification, highlighting how she has often upheld the department’s standards for the certification as being “one of the highest in the world”.
“I am not questioning our halal certification, Jakim or disrespecting Islamic rights…I have a responsibility to voice the concerns of our multiracial people.
“I hope that after this, this issue will die down and the situation will be calm.”
When asked about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s public rebuke against her for raising her concerns publicly, Kok said that she was not afforded an opportunity to discuss the matter internally as Na’im had brought the proposal up through an open forum.
Na’im at a press conference during the International Conference on Family Law 2024 on September 5 raised the proposal for mandatory halal certification for food business, including those that do not serve pork and alcohol.
Currently, obtaining halal certification is a business choice as there are no laws requiring food operators to do so.
In her initial response to Na’im, Kok had said making halal certification compulsory could be a potential added burden to businesses, besides impeding consumers’ freedom of choice, besides being “contrary to the spirit of cultural diversity in the country”.
She also said smaller businesses, including “thousands of Malay small restaurant entrepreneurs” would find it burdensome as the requirement would increase their administrative costs.
Those who slammed her remarks include Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who urged Kok to retract her statements and accused the five-time MP of touching on 3R sensitivities.
Another critic was Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh, who called Kok “Nyonya tua” (old Nyonya” and said she should paste a “non-halal logo” on her forehead. – September 10, 2024