00:00The Kelantan state government's proposal requiring Muslim eateries to obtain halal
00:06certificates might violate constitutional rights to earn a livelihood, according to
00:11lawyer A. Srimurugan.
00:13He said forcing business owners to secure halal certification infringes on their rights
00:18to conduct business, as the process can be prohibitively expensive, potentially costing
00:23up to 200,000 ringgit per outlet.
00:26Srimurugan suggested a zero-cost certification process for small businesses to alleviate
00:31these burdens.
00:33This proposal contrasts with earlier comments from lawyer Hanif Qadri Abdullah, who said
00:38the rule isn't discriminatory since it doesn't apply to non-Muslim restaurant owners, asserting
00:43it is constitutional and within state powers.
00:46However, constitutional law expert Philip Coase said local bylaws must still adhere
00:51to constitutional constraints and advocated for respecting liberty of choice regarding
00:56religious food certifications.
00:59The Federal Islamic Development Department said halal certification remains voluntary,
01:03a policy unchanged since 1974.
01:07The Kelantan state government clarified that the rule targets only eateries serving Muslims,
01:12with non-Muslim-owned outlets required to have certificates only if serving Muslim customers.
Comments