The cyberspace rumour-mill has churned out yet another controversy over a so-called religious practice.

This time, the e-mail has raised the ire of two religious groups - the Muslim Consumers' Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS).

The e-mail, based on a July 26 posting on the Tranungkite.net website, urges Muslims to stay away from Indian restaurants because of the Hindu practice of sprinkling komiyam and v ibuthi on the premises of newly-acquired property for purification purposes, blessings, and to ward off evil.

Komiyam is derived from the urine of cows, while v ibuthi is a powdery substance made from cow faeces.

The writer of the e-mail identified him/herself only as 'MJH' but claimed to be a 'director' of PPIM's 'Public Relations and Media Communications' division.

MJH said the rite of sprinkling komiyam and v ibuthi on business premises is done daily before the start of each business day.

"Sometimes, the ( komiyam ) liquid and the (v ibuthi ) powder is sprinkled on prepared food, perhaps to invoke blessings," claimed MJH.

MJH also claimed that some Hindu-owned restaurants that practice the rite serve cuisine usually associated with Indian Muslim restaurants and use Malay-sounding names in order to 'confuse' and bring in Muslim customers.

"It is not the intention of PPIM to incite hatred among the various racial and religious communities in Malaysia," said the email author MJH. He adds, however, that the motto "Muslim businesses come first" should be "our practice."

One malaysiakini reader to whom the e-mail was forwarded expressed anger at the posting, which he believed would only serve to further widen the gap between ethnic communities and add to ill-feeling.

"If it was anonymous or just one individual, it wouldn't matter so much. But the e-mail is allegedly sent on behalf of PPIM," he said when contacted.

When contacted, PPIM spokesperson Noor-Nirwandy Mat Noordin denied the group had ever issued such a statement or e-mail.

"We do not even have such a division for 'public relations and media communications," said Noor-Nirwandy when contacted.

He said that while the association's name had been used without authorisation, PPIM will not be lodging a police report on the matter.

'Not the first time, nor the last'

"This is not the first time nor will it be the last, that PPIM has been used to further some opportunistic agendas," said Noor-Nirwandy, who cited an earlier e-mail that alleged a reputable Muslim company was using pork in its certified- halal sausages.

"We leave it up to the authorities to take action and trace the identity of the person who posted this 'statement.' (Meanwhile), we believe Muslim consumers will use their good judgement to evaluate (the credibility of) the posting," he said.

MHS president A Vaithilingam expressed surprise that such an e-mail concerning komiyam and v ibuthi had been made.

He clarified that komiyam and v ibuthi are usually only sprinkled on the floors - not on food - and the practice is conducted only once at the opening of a new business or a new home and not on a daily basis.

The powdery substance usually used is tumeric, said Vaithilingam, and even this is not a purely religious practice but due to the health properties associated with the spice.

"I hope people would be level-headed when they come across this e-mail. It's best to ignore it," said Vaithilingam.