The focus is on Teresa Kok, a member of parliament from the Democratic Action Party – part of the governing coalition – and with six legislative terms behind her. The document is too onerous for small businesses. During questioning, she stressed that she had not disrespected Islam.
Kuala Lumpur () – A debate has opened in Malaysia regarding the certification of food, in particular regarding its compliance with the precepts of the Muslim religion. At the centre of the controversy is the veteran Catholic politician Teresa Kok, MP for the parliamentary seat of Seputeh, who was questioned by the police in connection with an investigation into her comments against the Halal certification proposed by Malaysian Islamic Development (Jakim). This is the Christian leader’s response to the statements of Na’im Mokhtar who, during the 2024 International Conference on Family Law held recently in Kuala Lumpur, had called for mandatory certification.
Teresa Kok (pictured), whose Democratic Action Party is a key member of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, had called for a review of the proposal by Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. The government official intends to make certification mandatory for all restaurants, despite it being seen as overly burdensome, due to excessively high prices, and unsustainable for small businesses.
Prime Minister Ankwar distanced himself from Kok’s remarks, saying that her comments were not the result of consensus within the unity government. In recent days, the police summoned the six-term Catholic MP to give a statement as part of an investigation into allegations that she caused widespread public alarm. She is said to have opposed the minister’s proposal and at the same time used online platforms to share “offensive content.”
The case file against Kok for her remarks will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said. He added that witnesses, including the MP herself, have been summoned for recorded statements that will be included in the investigation. Her lawyer, Syahredzan, said she had been questioned for an hour and a half and answered 20 questions related to the investigation.
The lawyer explained that the Catholic MP wanted to highlight that mandatory Halal certification would have been a burden for small businesses because it would increase management costs and operational difficulties. For this reason, she has proposed that the imposition of the legal limitation be reviewed, stating that the decision to obtain the certification should remain “voluntary”, depending on the needs of the market and the customers of each establishment.
In an interview with local media, Kok reiterated his respect for the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and the Muslim religion. “I have not questioned the Halal certification, nor the role of Jakim, nor have I disrespected Islam,” he told the local newspaper. Sinar Daily. In this regard, the Catholic MP recalled that she herself had “promoted” Halal certification in Malaysia since 2008, when she held the position of member of the executive committee of Selangor for Trade, Industry and Investment. “Halal certification in Malaysia has one of the highest standards in the world,” she concluded, and clarified that she has “fully cooperated with the police investigations” in the hope that “the matter will be resolved in a completely peaceful manner.”
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