00:00Allow restaurants and eateries that do not serve pork or alcohol to choose whether to
00:06apply for the Halal Certificate issued by the Islamic Religious Department.
00:10This is a proposal by the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, which said that while Halal Certification
00:16falls under JAKIM's jurisdiction and pertains to Islamic hygiene standards and food safety,
00:21Article 11 of the Federal Constitution also guarantees the freedom of religion and should
00:26therefore be protected.
00:28Its President Yong Kuei Yung said restaurants and food companies should be free to choose
00:32which local or international hygiene and food safety standards to follow as part of their
00:37marketing strategies.
00:40Yong's statement comes after Religious Affairs Minister Naim Mokhtar announced that JAKIM
00:44is studying a proposal to mandate that all restaurants and food companies, except for
00:48premises that sell pork or alcoholic drinks, obtain Halal Certificates.
00:53Seputai MP Teresa Kok, who is under investigation by the police, had said that such a move
00:58could burden small businesses, restrict consumer choice and clash with Malaysia's cultural diversity.
01:04Her comments drew the ire of several parties, including Bersarta Youth Chief Wan Ahmad Faizah
01:09Wan Ahmad Kamau and the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia.
01:13Sam Yichua, FMT News.
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