Group wants council to ban open sale of pork
Susan LoonePublished: Jan 24, 2014 12:00 PM | Updated: Jan 25, 2014 11:59 AM
The Islamic Solidarity and Charity Organisation (Isco) has sent a memorandum to the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) complaining about pork being sold openly in public areas.
‘The Penang Municipal Council should be more sensitive towards Muslims.’
The Islamic Solidarity and Charity Organisation (Isco) has sent a memorandum to the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) complaining about pork being sold openly in public areas.
The two-page letter sent to MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail was signed by president Abdul Rahman Makhtun, and handed over to the department in Komtar today.
Seven Isco members handed the letter to state government representative Zainulfaqar Yacob.
"As a state with many races, MPPP should be more sensitive towards the Muslims. Pigs are ‘haram’ to the community," said Abdul Rahman.
"We regret that the MPPP and state government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) are not sensitive to the Muslim community.
"We are concerned that pork sellers are very brave now to sell pork openly in three areas - Chulia Street, Kuantan Road, and CY Choy Street," he added.
Chulia Street is a popular spot in George Town, lined with budget hotels and street hawker food, while Kuantan Road houses a market that has been around since World War II.
Another major road in George Town is CY Choy Street (formerly Bridge Street) that leads to the well-known Jelutong market.
Care for and understand sensitivities
As there are also Muslim traders within these areas, the group wants the MPPP to prevent and ban the open sale of pork in these areas, and it urged the council to act firmly against unlicensed hawkers.
It also wants Patahiyah to send a written statement to all hawkers and sellers of food products, regardless of race, to care for and understand the sensitivities of a multiracial community.
Attached to the letter are photos of the locations where the group wants MPPP to ban the sale of pork.
Also present with the group were Umno Youth Tanjong division vice-chief Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff and Isco secretary Mohd Firdaus Humayoon.
The letter was also copied to Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon and Penang Islamic Affairs Council president Salleh Man.
When contacted, state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said he is aware that the group has submitted a memorandum to the state government.
"I will study the contents of the letter before commenting on the issue," Malik said.
The two-page letter sent to MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail was signed by president Abdul Rahman Makhtun, and handed over to the department in Komtar today.
Seven Isco members handed the letter to state government representative Zainulfaqar Yacob.
"As a state with many races, MPPP should be more sensitive towards the Muslims. Pigs are ‘haram’ to the community," said Abdul Rahman."We regret that the MPPP and state government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) are not sensitive to the Muslim community.
"We are concerned that pork sellers are very brave now to sell pork openly in three areas - Chulia Street, Kuantan Road, and CY Choy Street," he added.
Chulia Street is a popular spot in George Town, lined with budget hotels and street hawker food, while Kuantan Road houses a market that has been around since World War II.
Another major road in George Town is CY Choy Street (formerly Bridge Street) that leads to the well-known Jelutong market.
Care for and understand sensitivities
As there are also Muslim traders within these areas, the group wants the MPPP to prevent and ban the open sale of pork in these areas, and it urged the council to act firmly against unlicensed hawkers.
It also wants Patahiyah to send a written statement to all hawkers and sellers of food products, regardless of race, to care for and understand the sensitivities of a multiracial community.
Attached to the letter are photos of the locations where the group wants MPPP to ban the sale of pork.Also present with the group were Umno Youth Tanjong division vice-chief Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff and Isco secretary Mohd Firdaus Humayoon.
The letter was also copied to Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon and Penang Islamic Affairs Council president Salleh Man.
When contacted, state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said he is aware that the group has submitted a memorandum to the state government.
"I will study the contents of the letter before commenting on the issue," Malik said.
View Comments0