I am questioning the need to make it mandatory, not the halal certification – Kok

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok clarified that she did not question the halal certification which she had promoted.

She pointed out that she was merely requesting the government to review the need to make halal certification compulsory.

“In fact, the standard used by Jakim in halal certification is among the highest in the world,” she said, reported Malaysiakini.

“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.

She said that she merely raised the concerns of people in her capacity as a MP.

“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.”

As for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for the issue to be raised in a proper channel, she said that there was no channel to do so.

In addition to that, the proposal was made in an open forum by Religious Affairs Minister, Datuk Na’im Mokhtar.