“These Malay politicians are desperate to show the voters that they are genuinely the protector of the community, but what they are doing is pathetic. It shows they do not trust Muslims to think and decide for themselves, even on a personal matter of what food to take. Labels have to be everywhere.” 

– Zaid Ibrahim

COMMENT | I have no idea if it is irony or comedy that the Kiniguide on the role and functions of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) includes a declarative “no” that “Jakim does not interfere with the religious affairs and activities of other faiths in this country.”

Perhaps Seputeh MP Teresa Kok relied on this when she said that Jakim’s proposal for mandatory halal certification for businesses that do not serve pork or alcohol would add an unnecessary burden to businesses, including many Malay-owned ones.

Not to worry. Her comrade in Umno, specifically the ulama council deputy chairperson Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, solved this problem by proclaiming that halal certification for Muslim-owned businesses was unsuitable, but he supports the mandatory certification ”for non-Muslim-owned businesses as it could eliminate doubts among Muslim customers and prevent accidental consumption of non-halal food.”

This Madani problem is solved when it comes to...