Rafidah: Be more concerned about ‘non-halal money’

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians should be more concerned about illegitimately acquired wealth rather than engaging in unnecessary debates on halal certificates, says former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (pic).

“Muslims in Malaysia, as well as our fellow Malaysians, should be more concerned about ‘non-halal money’ and wealth plundered by those with no integrity, who then distribute that illegally gotten money to charities and feed others,” she said in a Facebook post yesterday.

She added that the government should focus its resources on combating wealth obtained through graft and abuse of power.

“And not to cause inconvenience to others, merely to ensure that the mee curry, fried rice and so on ‘must be certified halal’.

“Muslims must be reminded that if they are in doubt, don’t force themselves to eat at those outlets. There are choices,” she said.

On Tuesday, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok had her statement recorded by the police after expressing her concerns and opposition to a proposal by the Malaysian Islamic Development Corporation (Jakim) to make halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol.

Kok had recently said this could be a burden to small businesses and restrict consumer freedom, leading to the filing of five police reports against Kok over her remarks.

Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, said several laws needed to be amended before mandatory halal certification could be imposed.

Presently, halal certification is optional for food business operators.

Rafidah, who is a former international trade and industry minister, noted that Muslims who are steadfast in adhering to Islam’s tenets do not need the government or its entities to help them decide what they can or can’t eat.

She said that such a move should be avoided to prevent government intervention in everyday life.

“Already, we are seeing unnecessary and uncalled for intervention creeping in.

“There is no reason for a government entity to compel every food outlet to have halal certification merely, it seems, ‘to safeguard Muslims’.

“Muslims can always avoid going into any place, especially to eat, if they feel ‘was was’ (uncertain) or ‘ragu ragu’ (doubtful) about what is being sold,” she said, adding that there were countless eateries, and others should not be burdened simply because Muslims “need to be protected from unIslamic food”.