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Not a case of having the burger and eating it, too

YOURSAY | ‘It is downright unbelievable that a Malaysian food outlet can be so clueless...’

Consumer group to advise pork burger chain on multiculturalism

Vijay47: While I suppose everyone can name his dishes whatever he wants, I think in this particular case it is an unnecessary stepping on sensitivities.

All the same, I am curious how some people have concluded that the ‘P’ stands for pork. It could be ‘Perfect’ or ‘Penang’, as in Penang char koay teow. It looks like it is an instance of not having your burger and eating it, too.

FairMind: Well, it's the Islamic Advancement Department of Malaysia (Jakim) who taught us how to use ‘Ginger Ade’ for ‘Ginger Beer’, ‘RB’ for ‘Root Beer’, ‘Pretzel Sausage’ for ‘Pretzel Dog’. So now naturally someone, caught by Jakim logic, uses ‘P Ramly’ for ‘Pork Burger’.

Now, that is inappropriate? Should we now switch ‘Ramly Burger’ to ‘Ram Gopal Burger’ or ‘Ram Karpal Singh Burger’ or something to suit some sensitive people who will never eat at that restaurant anyway?

If someone could confuse ‘Ramly Burger’ with the late P Ramlee, then it is not the food but something very terribly wrong with our school education system.

Tok Karut: The Ramly burger has become a household name for Malaysian halal burgers, whether or not this was intended by its manufacturers. It is not good business to add pork under the same name or under ‘P Ramly’.

Trade name/franchise suits? Not to say lawsuit by P Ramlee's family and heirs. I would think it’s good business common sense to rethink this before some calamity involving law and order.

Tan Kim Keong: Definitely a play on ‘P Ramlee’. What's the rationale for it? Get attention, share of ‘likes’ or a mnemonic or all of these? Bad taste if it is. Should have just called it ‘Hog Patty’.

Peacemaker: They are not in the business of saving your iman or your soul. They are in business for your ringgit. Let the market decide if they survive or sink.

Please don’t insult our Muslim brothers by calling them confused. All my friends are able to see advertising for what it is and are more than capable of deciding on what and where they will dine.

Bazooka: The name is certainly inappropriate in this country. I have no quarrel with non-Muslims wanting to eat pork and other pig meat products; but when a business outlet starts using a Muslim household name like ‘P Ramlee’ or ‘P Ramly’ (no distinction in the sound each spelling makes) to sell a non-halal foodstuff, you can bet I'll be the first to protest.

This is not the way to conduct a business in a multicultural country like ours.

Falcon: No need to solicit feedback from the public - this is wrong pure and simple. Personally, I have very strong words for them which cannot go into print.

Let us never forget we are a multiracial religious Malaysian family where our respect and sensitivities must always be extended to our other brethren.

Anonymous 281631469076763: I have to say that I think this is in bad taste and likely to deceive. I often think people go over the top when saying people this or that confuses me, but this one I agree with, and I'm not Malaysian.

Odysseus: In my opinion, if it's a non-halal food, we should avoid names that relate to Malay or Islam. We don't want to create unnecessary confusion, especially if we already know it contains pork.

1 M Robber Hood: I am a Hindu. I think the chain need to change the name immediately, this is bad taste, period. I wouldn't be happy if someone put the name ‘Rajini Burger’ on a beef burger.

Vent: It is downright unbelievable that a Malaysian food outlet can be so clueless about the fallout from such an insensitive name. Are they from another planet? It's almost passive aggressive.

So, while we are condemning (and quite rightly, too) the government's jingoism, red-shirt rowdyism and Jakim's alleged loony tunes, here is a product that has disrespect written all over it.

Get real man. Respect. Or ship back to the planet you came from.

ZZZ: Simple, use ‘P Ram Lee’, sounds logical, very Chinese. Better if one of the business partners is a Lee.

PMO: Maybe should name it as ‘PM Burger’. Everything the PM does is allegedly haram as the whole world sees it.

Boeyks: How about ‘Donor Doughnut’? The seller actually couldn't care less for the name but looking for a sale to make money.

Sleepy: It is not only confusing but distasteful (pun intended).

One Malaysia: P Ramlee himself would have laughed, but I think most Malaysians would agree it's stupid and insensitive.

Tembikai: Yes, it is totally stupid and insensitive. The situation in Malaysia is already highly charged and this businessman is adding to the problem for no good reason.

Phee Boon Jin: As a non-Malay, I have to agree that the name is in bad taste.

P Ramlee is a legend who is loved by all Malaysians and should be respected. Please change the name to something else.

Anubis: My main criticism of Islam as it is preached and practised in Najib Abdul Razak's Kangkongland is that followers are allegedly brainwashed to be sensitive and overreact to the most trivial issues - while remaining grossly insensitive to truly important problems like environmental degradation (destructive logging, toxic industries, soil-depleting monocultures) - all caused by endemic corruption, disastrous education standards due to ethnocentric concerns, and totally unaccountable (mis)government on a humongous scale.

My guess is that the people behind this product were afraid to call it something like ‘Ms Piggy’ and stepped right into a deeper pit by borrowing the name of Malaysia's iconic superstar.

TheAnonymous: "Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society.

"If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." - PJ O'Rourke


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