COMMENT Sometime in mid-May Western Europe experienced an outbreak and incursion of the e. coli bacteria into the food chain. This bacteria is of the powerful O104:H4 strain that could kill humans. Sure enough since its attack 27 people have died with close to 3,000 sickened.    

When the invasion was detected the relevant health authorities sent their public health detectives to locate the bacteria’s source or breeding ground.  

The detectives first suspected and identified cucumber grown in Spain being the carrier of the bacteria. So cucumber grown in Spain was immediately declared contaminated. Spanish farmers had to throw away all of their banned and thereby non-distributable-and-saleable cucumbers.  

Then they found out that the carrier was not cucumber, but sprouts grown in Germany. They even apparently have located the farm growing the sprouts.  Appropriate action had been taken there, too.  

The principle surrounding the issue is easy to state: It’s a case of cause and effect. The e. coli bacteria is toxic or poisonous to life, so people consuming food contaminated by it may fall sick and even die.

The relevant authorities therefore took the decisive action to identify the source or the threat, its breeding ground, and the vehicle or carrier it spreads out. These measures were taken with the purpose of eliminating the outbreak, thus limiting the incidence of sickness and death.  

Speedy and decisive reaction

 

I marvel at the respective governments of Europe for their decisive and speedy reaction. Here was a definite and direct threat to the safety, welfare, and life of their citizens. They acted speedily and appropriately to contain if not eradicate the outbreak effectively.  

 

Similar analogical reaction had also taken place in modern human civilization. In 2001 the foot and mouth disease saw the culling of millions of cows and sheep. Later the invasion of severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS saw the slaughter of many more animals in the food chain.

In June this year Jakim announced the discovery of porcine (or pork) DNA in the world renowned Tabasco and HP sauces. So alarm bells were quickly sounded, with Jakim urging all users of these sauces to switch to other (untainted) brands. Users are to submit the documents of the switch-over to confirm their adherence to Jakim’s urging and instigation.

Outlets habitually using these sauces (like steakhouses, perhaps) are urged to ‘ samak ’ (ritually cleanse) their premises as a follow-up.

The principle surrounding this speedy action is not that of cause and effect. It is one of belief. Pork and any of its derivatives are haram food items. So Jakim works fast on the similar premise of protecting the welfare of the people under its care. So Muslims must immediately be protected from eating it to ensure the purity of their spirit and soul.

Jakim should deserve an accolade similar to its Western European counterparts for their quick thinking.  

But I find it difficult to shower accolades on Jakim’s fast action. For one brand owner , HJ Heinz and McIhenny, ( Malaysiakini , June 20) quickly refuted the claim by stating that these said products do have the Halal certification from their respective Jakim equivalents in America and the Netherlands.

In the meantime, Muhammad Khan wrote a letter to Malaysiakini (June 21) asking how scientific was the pork DNA test carried out for foodstuff? His casting of doubt would surely not be a lone voice, for there are many who had expressed similar scepticism.

Over-enthusiasm causing uncertainty?

In other words Jakim’s over-enthusiasm has caused a lot of inconvenience, confusion and conflict, causing uncertainty and perhaps even of guilt to the public.

 

The reasons are quite clear to see as there is an obvious difference between the two cases. While the European authorities could see the potential danger and damage done by e. coli (namely sickness and death), Jakim can’t really say that any similar danger and damage has been suffered by Malaysians eating sauces tainted with porcine DNA. No one has fallen sick or died out of eating Tabasco or HP sauce yet!

Why therefore the haste on Jakim’s part?

Wouldn’t it be better had, upon receiving the alert from the Chemistry Department that the two sources contained porcine DNA, Jakim first alerted the public. Then Jakim should get verification of the information from second or third parties but still withholding any ‘ arahan ’ or directive to consumers.

If it’s still true that the said forbidden DNA is present, then the next step is to determine what proportion of the foodstuff is made from it. If it is say five percent, then perhaps the sauces can be considered haram.

But if, say, the contamination is only at 0.05 percent, then perhaps Jakim can even consider the statistical fact that this proportion is not significant enough to make the product haram.

I say this on the understanding that this small percentage of a non-toxic or poisonous item in an equally non-toxic and non-poisonous sauces would not go very far to cause sickness and death.

   

Let the ulama and the religious right not misunderstood me here. Never for once am I suggesting that Jakim and other guardian institutions should condone Malays and Muslims eating pork or any other non-halal meat.

All I say is that (and I repeat my point) the concept of haram and halal in Islamic understanding relates strictly to a prescribed religious decree. The religious law has stipulated this to be so, and so it has been and shall be. The ulama are happy with this and furthermore happy to see its rigorous observation and implementation. There are people living and thinking in this paradigm box.  

More flexible and pragmatic

 

But I do also say that there are people out there (both Muslim and non-Muslim) who somehow see that ‘haram’ in the context of food should have direct relationship with the danger from eating the food itself. They do not mind bending the religious rules at all should consuming non-halal food not adversely affect human health.   

In other words they are more flexible and pragmatic in that they are willing to consume non-halal meat but otherwise certified as safe and uncontaminated with bacteria. (They of course do not consume halal meat or other food items when these are proven to contain potentially damaging toxins and bacteria.) They have made the quantum leap out of the box.   

Finally I’d reiterate that Jakim is a government agency. Its main function is to take care of the religious welfare of the people. It is manned by bureaucrats who get their salaries from the Treasury, from the people’s taxes. They are answerable to the people, not to God Almighty. They should be responsive to the people’s welfare and needs, not to their restrictive understanding and interpretation of religious edicts.

So inasmuch as they are busy taking care of the halal/haram conditions of food products, they should also attend to other bigger things affecting the welfare and moral health of the people.

How about Jakim getting involved in the Lynas rare earth case, where people may be exposed to radioactivity? Shouldn’t it make a stand on either supporting the investment, or rejecting it on the ground it can be dangerous to public health? How about it getting actively involved in the eradication or minimising the rampant corruption in this country? How about providing inputs in the control of inflation? The list goes on and on.

But these subjects, important as they may be, are in the main out of the insular Jakim thinking radar. So much the better if it does.  

AB SULAIMAN is an observer of human traits and foibles, especially within the context of religion and culture. As a liberal, he marvels at the way orthodoxy fights to maintain its credibility in a devilishly fast-changing world. He hopes to provide some understanding to the issues at hand and wherever possible, suggest some solutions. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (Leicester, UK) and a Diploma in Public Administration, Universiti Malaya.