2 days after PAS extended Christmas greetings to all Malaysian Christians, acknowledging Malaysia’s cultural diversity adding vibrancy to our shared experience, PAS Government in Kelantan today announces that all food and beverage establishment owners in Kelantan will soon be required to obtain a halal certificate to renew their business licences.
The decision is making their Christmas greeting a complete mockery, as the decision is highly exclusionary and discriminative. This policy directly marginalizes non-Muslim businesses, effectively banning traditional dishes like Bak Kut Teh, char siu and siu yuk (roast pork) from being served in Kota Bharu. Such actions disregard the rights and livelihoods of the non-Muslim community and erode the spirit of diversity of Malaysia.
This move sharply contrasts with the inclusive leadership of the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz, who assured non-Muslim communities that their cultural practices, such as pig farming and selling, would be respected in Kelantan. It raises the question: is “PAS for All” merely a hollow political slogan?
Malaysia is a world-recognised halal certification hub and a benchmark for quality and safety for goods that meet international standards. We take pride in Malaysia being the first country to establish Malaysian halal standards which serve as a reference for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.
In September this year, the Madani Cabinet decided to maintain the existing policy which was introduced since 1974, i.e. does not make halal certificates compulsory, however will offer a range of incentives and initiatives to encourage more products or services to be certified halal.
The new policy also places additional costs on small and medium sized F & B operators in Kelantan, the vast majority of whom are Muslims. Many of them are already serving halal food despite not having an official halal certificate and they should be incentivised, instead of forced, to obtain the certificate.
PAS-led Kelantan Government should respect the choices of the F & B owners and their customers, stop implementing policies that will burden the small and medium-sized operators, and that alienate and exclude those who differ from them. Instead, Kelantan government should just learn and adopt the approach taken by Madani Government.
Or, they should admit the “PAS for All” slogan is officially dead.
Teo Nie Ching
DAP National Publicity Secretary
Syahredzan Johan
DAP Central Executive Committee Member
