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'Mandatory' halal certs
'Non-halal' cigarettes
'Draconian' DNS plan
'Mandatory' halal certs
The government is considering making it mandatory for restaurants and food businesses that don't sell pork or alcohol to get halal certification.
The issue caught fire after Seputeh MP Teresa Kok criticised the plan - saying it would burden many businesses, including those run by Malays.
She said it could also make Malaysia the subject of ridicule.
Her remarks prompted an uproar from conservative politicians and a police investigation against her.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also distanced Pakatan Harapan from Kok's remarks, although DAP backed her up.
Curiously, there was no backlash against the Umno ulama council, which also objected to making halal certification mandatory for Muslim-owned businesses.
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'Non-halal' cigarettes
Besides mandatory halal certification for pork-free eateries, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na'im Mokhtar is also mulling another radical idea - placing cigarettes in the non-halal section.
A fatwa forbidding Muslims from using cigarettes was issued in 1995, while a fatwa forbidding e-cigarettes and vapes was issued in 2005.
However, this has generally not been observed as taboo by Muslim smokers, even in PAS-controlled states.
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'Draconian' DNS plan
The MCMC's plan to implement domain name service (DNS) "redirection" by the end of this month has been sent to the recycling bin.
The plan was marketed as a means to make the internet safer.
However, it was met with heavy backlash on social media, with Harapan lawmakers among those calling it draconian and an attempt at censorship.
Following the brickbats, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil ordered the MCMC not to proceed with the plan and to engage with stakeholders.
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Views that matter
 | By V Ganabatirau |
 | By Mariam Mokhtar |
 | By C4 Center |
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