The risks of running into ham’s way

Questions over halal certification highlight deeper issues about religious and ethical principles in Malaysian society

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Convenience chain store KK Mart has yet again found itself caught in the eye of a storm.

Last March, it was caught up in a controversial case of socks bearing the word Allah that it had displayed for sale.

This time around, the brouhaha is over the halal logo on ham-and-cheese sandwich packs, which the food supplier allegedly misused.  

These packs were found in KK Mart’s outlets on the University of Malaya campus. As a result, the outlets were swiftly shuttered pending investigation.

The ‘ham’ in this case turned out to be chicken ham. However, it would be a violation of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, specifically the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, if the food item was labelled as halal without due authorisation.

As most people in Malaysia are aware, Islamic dietary laws forbid Muslims from consuming certain food and beverages, and ham is one of them.

Unsurprisingly, Umno’s youth wing chief, Akmal Saleh, sprang into action, expressing outrage over ham being labelled as halal. He regarded such an action as “belittling” Islam – an expression which may have been calculated to resonate among the faithful and the ethnic Malay constituency.

With the explosive controversy surrounding the “Allah” socks in mind, hopefully certain politicians, especially those bereft of ideas of how to improve living standards in Malaysia, will not exploit this controversy to advance their own agendas.

People in Malaysia should not be easily distracted by such fear-mongering orchestrated by unscrupulous politicians. Such a ploy could polarise society and hold the country back from peace and progress.

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For one thing, we need to be clear that ham (aka pork), which is the cause of anxiety for some, is different from turkey ham or chicken ham, just as hamburger has nothing to do with ham.

Similarly, Pretzel Dogs, Coney Dogs and hot dogs have no connection with the canine community. So let’s not bark up the wrong tree, so to speak. (Remember how the franchise holders or owners of Pretzel Dog and Coney Dog were eventually persuaded by the religious authorities in Malaysia to change their names to something deemed more palatable.)

Acknowledging such distinctions is crucial in preventing unnecessary knee-jerk reactions that could escalate into ugly conflicts. At the very least, it should help restrain certain quarters from making fools of themselves. 

The above episodes suggest that halal-haram consciousness has become more prominent in the lives of the Malay-Muslim community over the years, partly owing to an intense Islamisation drive of a certain kind.

Meanwhile, the lucrative halal industry has expanded beyond the food and beverages sector. It now includes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, banking, travel and finance. For an idea of how big the halal industry is, it was projected to contribute 8.1% of Malaysia’s total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022.

In a sense, halal has been capitalised and to some extent, even commodified.

However, the concern about what’s permissible and what’s forbidden in food and beverages among many Muslims is not given similar moral and religious force in other aspects of Muslim life, namely good governance and ethical living.

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That is why it was disconcertingly ironic that a recent rally was successfully held and well attended in Putrajaya by those who profess to be God-fearing and halal-conscious yet are willing to rally in solidarity with a convicted felon, also implicated in a scandal described as “kleptocracy at its worst”.

To be sure, Islam considers corruption as haram. So, it would be gravely sinful if it involves the stealing of immense amounts of public funds that would undermine the wellbeing of ordinary people, especially the poor. 

To reiterate, corruption is not halal. Full stop.

Still on the subject of halal food, buying food from a halal outlet may not necessarily make its consumption halal, especially if the purchase is made using ill-gotten money.

If the concept of halal is to help Muslims to distinguish what’s permissible and what’s not, then it should serve as a moral compass for all aspects of Muslim life, particularly in politics and wealth accumulation.

After all, halal is more than a mere licence in Islam. It is a valued principle.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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Rick Burns
19 Jan 2025 1.41pm

Many good points

Angeline Loh
Angeline Loh
17 Jan 2025 12.09pm

Just think of the old days, what it was like when we trusted each other to respect our beliefs and religious practices. This “ham” issue is merely a total misunderstanding of language. It shows the weakness of intellect that a school kid may call a ” no brainer”.
Non- Muslim Malaysians generally respect the “Halal” conditions for Muslims in Malaysia, regardless of ethnicity. They even go out of their way to be inclusive, ensuring the enjoyment of everyone, especially when it comes to food we all enjoy. The simplest way to avoid dubious food or other items that one is doubtful about, is just to avoid it. Don’t buy what you’re uncertain of. After all there are so many other alternatives and other shops!