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Kok mulls legal action against Akmal for ‘old Nyonya', 'non-halal sticker on forehead' remarks | Scoop
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh (centre) in a TikTok video said the government should “print a non-halal logo and stick it on this old nyonya’s forehead”, in reference to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok after she urged for a review of a proposal for mandatory halal certification for food business including those that do not serve pork or alcohol. — Riduan Rizal Ahmad/Scoop file pic, September 10, 2024
News

Kok mulls legal action against Akmal for ‘old Nyonya’, ‘non-halal sticker on forehead’ remarks

Seputeh MP has sought legal advice on attack by Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh who told her not to comment on Islamic matters as a non-Muslim.

Main Author Image
Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Updated
2:29 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok will consider legal action against Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh for making disparaging remarks in relation to her request for a review on a halal certification proposal. 

Kok, who is also Seputeh MP, said she has obtained legal advice from her lawyers and will decide on the matter at a later date. 

She told reporters this after giving her statement at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here to facilitate a probe into her remarks objecting to the Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) proposal for mandatory halal certification for restaurants and food businesses, including those which do not serve pork or alcohol.

Akmal, who is Merlimau assemblyman, had criticised Kok for voicing out on the issue and called her an “old nyonya” whom he claimed embarrassed the country by threatening national harmony. 

He also said that Kok, a five-time elected lawmaker, should stay quiet instead of speaking on Islamic matters as she is a non-Muslim.

“I would like to ask the government to print a ‘non-halal’ logo (and) stick it on this old nyonya’s forehead,” Akmal said in a TikTok video last week. 

Kok reiterated to the media today that she is not opposing the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the government’s efforts to promote halal certification, highlighting how she has often upheld the department’s standards for the certification as being “one of the highest in the world”. 

“I am not questioning our halal certification, Jakim or disrespecting Islamic rights…I have a responsibility to voice the concerns of our multiracial people,” she said. 

The police investigation into Kok’s remarks are being conducted under Section 298 and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.

Section 298 pertains to wounding the religious feelings of others, while Section 505 pertains to statements conducing to mischief. Section 233 of the CMA is on improper use of network facilities.

At a press conference on September 5, religious affairs minister Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar had raised the proposal for mandatory halal certification for restaurants and food business, including those that do not serve pork and alcohol.

Currently, obtaining halal certification is a business choice as there are no laws requiring food operators to do so.

In her initial response to Na’im, Kok had said making halal certification compulsory could be a potential added burden to businesses, besides impeding consumers’ freedom of choice, besides being “contrary to the spirit of cultural diversity in the country”.

She also said smaller businesses, including “thousands of Malay small restaurant entrepreneurs” would find it burdensome as the requirement would increase their administrative costs. 

Others who had slammed her remarks include Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who urged Kok to retract her statements and accused the five-time MP of touching on 3R sensitivities. – September 10, 2024 

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