'I support halal certification, but mandatory proposal needs review'
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has denied disrespecting Islam or questioning the need for halal certification.
On the contrary, she said that she supported the government and the Islamic Development Department's (Jakim) efforts to promote halal certification for the food and beverage industry.
"In fact, the standard used...
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has denied disrespecting Islam or questioning the need for halal certification.
On the contrary, she said that she supported the government and the Islamic Development Department's (Jakim) efforts to promote halal certification for the food and beverage industry.
"In fact, the standard used by Jakim in halal certification is among the highest in the world.
"I have been promoting Malaysian halal certification to foreign countries since I held the post of trade industry and investment exco in Selangor back in 2008 till today.
"In many meetings with business delegations and foreign government agencies, one of the agendas I raised was asking them to get halal certification from Malaysia if they wanted to export any food to Malaysia or to other Muslim countries," she said in a statement.
The DAP lawmaker was responding to backlash after she called for the government to review a proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork and alcohol.
Kok had argued that this would burden businesses and could make Malaysia an object of ridicule.
Explaining her remarks, Kok said that as an MP, she had a responsibility to voice the problems people of various races faced.
"That is why I asked the government to review this proposal. My statement does not at all mean that I question halal certification, Jakim's role, or disrespect Islam," she added.
Proposal made openly
On Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's criticism that she should have voiced her opinions at a meeting, Kok said she was not able to do so in this case.
This is as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar had raised the proposal in an open forum without prior engagement, she explained.
Kok's criticism of the mandatory certification proposal had caused an uproar from conservative politicians including Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.
Police are also investigating her for allegedly causing religious offence and making statements conducive to public mischief.
The Seputeh MP said she would cooperate fully with the police.
