Kelantan halal row: Don’t make policies at the expense of the minority communities

A DAP leader cautioned the Pas – led Kelantan state government against making policies at the expense of minority communities in view of the state’s policy of making halal certification compulsory for food and beverage outlets license renewal.

“While it is essential to cater to the needs of the Muslim majority, policies must not come at the expense of minority communities.

“True harmony lies in fostering mutual respect and understanding, not in imposing regulations that alienate or disadvantage certain groups.

“Instead of mandatory halal certification, the government could adopt a more flexible approach, encouraging businesses that wish to serve Muslim customers to obtain certification voluntarily.

“I urge the Kelantan state government to reconsider this directive. It is crucial to strike a balance that respects Islamic principles while protecting the rights of non-Muslim communities.

“Inclusivity and fairness should guide any policy that impacts the livelihoods and cultural practices of Malaysians, regardless of their faith or ethnicity,” said Senator Dr A Lingeshwaran in a statement.

He also questioned Kelantan’s plans to make halal certification compulsory for all food and beverage outlets there on the basis that there are Indian owned restaurants that operate under specific cultural practices.

“Kelantan has a significant number of Indian-owned restaurants, many of which specialize in Indian and South Asian cuisine. These establishments often cater to a diverse clientele, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and others.

“Forcing them to comply with the halal certification policy would be unjust and impractical. As of recent estimates, there are more than 100 Indian restaurants in Kelantan, many of which operate under specific cultural practices that do not conform to the halal certification standards, especially for vegetarian or non-halal products.

“The imposition of halal certification requirements would create unnecessary barriers for these businesses and may force some to shut down or significantly alter their operations.”

He added that the halal certification is also irrelevant to certain F&B businesses.

“Another critical point is the irrelevance of halal certification for certain businesses, such as vegetarian restaurants or eateries serving non-halal products explicitly catering to non-Muslims.

“Forcing them to comply with this policy is not only impractical but also unjust. It disregards the rights of non-Muslims to conduct their businesses in accordance with their beliefs and traditions.”

He also pointed out that halal certification is not only time consuming but also costly, especially for small scale businesses.