THE Kelantan Malay Restaurant Owners Association (Permeka) has urged local authorities in Kota Baru to differ making it mandatory for all eateries to have halal (Muslim permissible) food certification as many are struggling to meet the stringent conditions.
The association whose members are predominantly Muslims made this call after a controversial and wide debate following the proposal from the Kota Baru City Council.
Kelantan has the highest Muslim population per capita in the country with almost 98%.
According to a report by Berita Harian, Permeka is requesting the Kelantan government to postpone the decision to make halal certification mandatory for business license renewals.
Its chairman Nik Hassan Mohd Zain shared that this decision is burdensome for small traders, adding that in their association, there are more than 100 premises, and almost all of them do not have halal certifications.
“This matter was only recently discovered after some of us wanted to renew our business licenses before being informed that we needed to apply for a halal certification to obtain the license.
“This sudden decision is burdensome for us because the process of applying for a halal certification is not easy and takes time.
“For every product we use in our shop, we need to obtain information from the supplier.
“The decor also needs to meet the standards to obtain Halal certificate approval,” he said.
The cleanliness level within the premises is also believed to be part of the halal requirements.
Nik Hassan conceded that some would have to spend thousands of ringgit to prepare the facilities as needed.
The association will hold a meeting with the council to discuss this matter.
“Our members are now burdened by the increase in (the prices of) goods, coupled with this issue.
“Doing business is now difficult, and sometimes, the owners themselves are not getting back their interests.
“We are now appealing to the state government to postpone this decision.
“We risk getting compounded if we fail to get the certification."
A Penang - based DAP leader cautioned the PAS–led Kelantan government against making policies at the expense of minority communities.
“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."
Senator Dr A. Lingeshwaran said this in a statement.
He questioned Kelantan’s plans to make halal certification compulsory for all outlets there on the basis that there are Indian-owned restaurants that operate under specific cultural practices.
He also pointed out that halal certification is not only time-consuming but also costly, especially for small-scale traders. - January 2, 2025.
