Barisan Nasional and opposition members of Parliament today unanimously called for tough action against food manufacturers and restaurant owners who abuse the halal logo.

The Dewan Rakyat set aside an hour this afternoon to debate an emergency motion tabled by Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) on the use of non- halal casing, such as pig intestines, in sausage products bearing the halal logo.

In tabling the motion, Salahuddin said the issue was specific as the media had reported that two factories in Selayang had used pig intestines as casing for sausage products.

He said the issue must be addressed urgently as halal foodstuff is a sensitive issue to Muslims and it was of public interest as it involved especially Klang Valley Muslim residents, who get their foodstuff from supermarkets and also eat at hotel restaurants.

Salahuddin said it was not the first time the issue of halal food has cropped up. Previous examples included that of manufacturers who used chicken that was not slaughtered according to Islamic rites, and who mixed chicken meat with pork but still sold these as halal food.

In allowing the motion, Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib said the motion fulfilled the three criteria, namely specific, urgent and of public interest as required under Standing Order 18 (1).

'Check cheats'

Debating the issue, Salahuddin said a new law should be enacted in order to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

"Such incidents will continue to happen so long as there is no law," he told the House.

Badruddin Amiruddin (BN-Jerai) said although the issue is not new, it should be tackled as religious aspects of the issue "could not be compromised".

Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) called for penalties like imprisonment and caning to be introduced to check those cheating on the rules. Similarly, there should also be monitoring of clothing and equipment such as stationery, for use of prohibited materials.

Winding up the debate, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Abdullah Md Zin said all restaurant owners or food manufacturers that apply for the halal logo, must comply with the requirements set.

He called on relevant authorities such as the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, health ministry, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and Selangor State Religious Department to act collectively against those who abuse the logo.

Naming two companies involved in faking the logo recently, he said it was "very bad" of them to have cheated consumers in order to make profits.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal warned that those who abuse the logo will not be forgiven and that all shareholders in the company concerned were liable to face action as well.

The issue of abuse of logo was highlighted when it was revealed that the Klang Valley-based Muller Sausages Haus Sdn Bhd and Pacific Refrigerating Sdn Bhd were found to be using halal certificates which had expired in January last year.