In a report by The Borneo Post, Covas president Michael Tiong said it has however yet to speak with the Sarawak Islamic Affairs department (Jais) to decide on how better to rephrase the current “Serve No Pork” signs as there was no official directive stating it was compulsory to use either the words “halal”, “non-halal” or just “no pork.”
Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork.
Tiong was responding to news reports that food outlet operators were using the current signage in a bid to deliberately confuse and attract Muslim patrons.
“Despite our fellow Malays being a minority in Sarawak, Covas will try to make it a point in order to look into the best interests of all races,” Tiong was quoted by the local daily as saying.
He added, this would further promote and strengthen the unity and harmony of the people in Sarawak, although he did point out that Covas had not as yet received any complaints from customers about the “Serve No Pork” signage.
Recently Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki called for action to be taken against food outlets that he accused of misleading Muslims into thinking the food served was halal due to the “pork-free” signage when this was not the case.
Asyaf said only food at outlets that carried the halal certificates from the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) could be consumed by Muslims.
Yesterday however Sarawak Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism’s (KPDNKK) state enforcement chief Abdul Hadfiz Abdul Rahim denied such signs were put up in an attempt to influence customers that their outlets served ‘halal’ food.
He also said it was premature to say that operators of such outlets were acting with malice against Muslims.