Teresa meets Jakim, says halal cert polemic was misunderstanding

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who is under a police probe over her statement on halal certification, met the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and Halal Development Corporation (HDC) today.

Kok said she met Jakim and HDC officials in Parliament while attending a meeting of the parliamentary special select committee on finance and economy of which she is a member.

HDC and Jakim were also present to promote halal certification.

“It appears the halal certification controversy stemmed from a misunderstanding by various quarters. It is best for Jakim to explain this issue.

“The meeting on efforts to promote halal certification was conducted in a cordial manner,” she said on Facebook.

The DAP leader added that Jakim’s deputy director Sirajuddin Suhaimee also attended the meeting after giving his statement at the Bukit Aman national police headquarters in the probe against her.

Kok is being investigated for saying the proposed compulsory halal certification for food businesses that do not use alcohol or pork would burden small businesses, including Malay-owned businesses.

This is because halal certification can be costly.

She was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who said the government is mulling the mandatory halal certification proposal.

This sparked backlash, including from Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who accused Kok of meddling in Islamic affairs.

Kok said she will take civil legal action against Akmal over his accusation.

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