The halal ‘hot potato’ – Let’s not obsess with trivialities

Malaysia is obsessed with trivialities manipulated by politicians who want to score political points and serve their agenda. This is especially true of religious matters, specifically Islam.

Such trivialities, especially those deemed to be offensive, are amplified under the guise of defending Islam, supposedly to ensure the purity and sanctity of the religion.

A recent example of this charade involves the word ‘Allah’ on several pairs of socks found at a KK Mart outlet. Unscrupulous politicians latched onto this incident to gain cheap publicity by loudly proclaiming a supposed threat to Islam.

Then there was the uproar regarding the liquor named Timah, which religious ‘zealots’ conveniently misconstrued as referring to the Prophet’s daughter, Fatimah.

The latest controversy concerns halal certification. On Sept 5, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, said  the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) was considering making halal certification compulsory for food outlets that do not serve pork or alcohol.

The justification is to ensure that Muslims feel comfortable with the food they consume and that the purity of their faith is not soiled by non-halal consumption.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok objected to the proposal, arguing that it would lead to unnecessary costs and inconvenience, for small businesses. As usual, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who seems to have a proclivity for controversial issues to stay in the limelight, jumped into the fray. He berated Kok for being un-Islamic, insultingly called her ‘nyonya tua’, and suggested the government stick a ‘non-halal logo’ on her forehead.

As is often the case in Malaysian politics, politicians and these religious zealots lodged several police reports against Kok. Consequently, the police investigated these reports rather swiftly, which is unusual for such trivial matters, particularly since Kok was simply exercising her right to freedom of expression. However, some Umno quarters have taken her response to be offensive to Islamic matters.

Kok’s reaction was a normal one for an elected representative with the interests of her constituency in mind, a significant portion of whom are non-Muslims.

For a long time, Muslims have coexisted comfortably within a community that provides both halal and non-halal food, catering to their respective communities. Muslims have avoided non-halal food outlets, without inconveniencing these operators, being aware of their own dietary restrictions.

Non-Muslim food outlets in predominantly Malay areas generally abide by general halal regulations without needing to apply for an official halal certificate.

Thus far, Muslims have fulfilled their spiritual obligations without requiring regulation by official government edict. It is more a matter of self-regulatory discipline. We pray five or more times a day, attend Friday prayers, fast, pay zakat (tithes) and go on Haj pilgrimage of our own volition. As good Muslims, we are guided by our conscience, not by official regulatory dictates. We are fully aware of being answerable in the hereafter for any transgressions and are cognisant of divine retribution and blessings.

However, transgressions against fellow Muslims or humans in civil and criminal cases are regulated by Syariah law, which metes out justice according to Quranic injunctions.

The current controversy surrounding halal certification for non-Muslim food outlets is not pertinent, as Muslims do not patronise such outlets. We choose halal outlets where the food is prepared, and the premises are managed by Muslims.

Legislation should not be used to require non-Muslim outlets to be halal compliant; this should remain voluntary. So far, Muslims and non-Muslims have coexisted, each according to their own faith, and the government has respected the needs of non-Muslims, allowing for the consumption of pork, liquor, and even gambling, without infringing on their beliefs, as enshrined in the Constitution.

This halal certification issue has caused unnecessary trepidation and tribulation, especially among non-Muslims. Muslims are neither ignorant nor gullible enough to be misled into eating at non-halal food outlets.

Let common sense prevail, and let us focus on more pressing matters that affect not only our faith but the overall wellbeing of the ummah (Muslim community), rather than succumbing to the charades of religious and political charlatans who manipulate issues to serve their personal or sectarian agendas.

The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Twentytwo13.