Umno Youth chief swipes at 'old Nyonya' Teresa over halal cert

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has slammed DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok for questioning the proposal to require restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork and alcohol to obtain halal certification.

Describing the Seputeh MP as a "Nyonya tua" (old Nyonya), Akmal said Kok should not have interfered in Islamic affairs related to halal certification.

"First of all, I want to tell this old lady that this halal certificate is not only for alcohol and pork, but this certificate includes the food preparation and how the ingredients are obtained.

"This is a set rule, and I want to let this old lady know that it used to take months to get this halal certificate. Today, we have been able to shorten it to 23 days.

"So, what's your problem with this halal certificate?" Akmal (above) said in a TikTok video.

The Malacca Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security exco also refuted Kok's claim that the move to make halal certification mandatory is an embarrassment to the country.

Conversely, he claimed that Kok is the one embarrassing the country by disrupting harmony.

"It doesn't even involve you, and the real shame of this country is that there are parliamentarians like you, old lady, who endlessly disturb the harmony of the country.

"If you don't know about our religion, don't talk.

"You're better off keeping silent, and I also ask the government to prepare a non-halal logo to stick to the forehead of this old lady," he added.

Concerns raised

Recently, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was reported to be considering a proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork and alcohol.

Kok voiced concerns over the proposed move, saying it could increase the burden on businesses, including thousands of Malay restaurant operators.

She added that it was against the spirit of cultural diversity and may make Malaysia an object of ridicule abroad.

“The introduction of compulsory halal certification will increase administrative costs. Halal certification should be voluntary, allowing entrepreneurs to make decisions based on market demand rather than being enforced, which will increase the difficulty of business operations,” she said.

Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal subsequently told Kok to apologise and retract her statement, failing which the youth wings of Perikatan Nasional nationwide would lodge a police report against her.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Kok's statement was not reflective of Pakatan Harapan's position and that the matter should be discussed in the appropriate forum.

However, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said Kok was merely voicing out the concerns of the non-Muslim community.

The Umno ulama council stated that the proposal to make halal certification mandatory is unsuitable for restaurants and food companies owned by Muslims.

Its deputy chairperson, Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, emphasised that Muslims are already bound by religious principles concerning halal and haram, cleanliness, and purity.

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