The Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM) has been criticised for urging others to boycott halal products by Chinese-owned companies.

NONE State executive councillor for Islamic affairs Abdul Malik Kassim ( right ) described such proposals as “immature, racist and childish”.

“I see the action as trying to punish the Chinese community for supporting Pakatan Rakyat in the just-concluded general election,” said Abdul Malik in a press conference.

“Supporting any parties is not a crime against any law that such action should be taken against them,” he added.

Abdul Malik was referring to the action by a group of 20 NGOs who on Tuesday held a media conference to urge Muslims to boycott several products by Chinese Malaysian companies which they claim funded Pakatan in the polls.

In response, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek said he plans to meet the NGOs, but would not be able to stop the boycott.

Abdul Malik said as the NGOS should be merely defending consumer issues, while PPIM used to be very active in speaking about “halal-haram” or health matters of goods and products.

However, the NGO seem to have shifted from its original causes when it started to urge a boycott which is political in nature, he added.

“It seems PPIM has become another Perkasa,” he quipped, referring to the vocal Malay rights defenders.

“Just as the awareness of consumers and producers has increased towards halal and haram issues, along comes PPIM to give a bad image about Islam,” said Abdul Malik.

“PPIM should instead focus on helping the federal and state governments on halal and haram issues which are of major concern for Muslim consumers,” he added.

Abdul Malik said since 2008, the state government has been able to increase the level of halal-ness of goods and products by as much as 605 percent.