NGOs call upon the public to take legal action against Cadbury

A group of NGOs today called on Malaysians to ‘rise up’ and take legal action against the British chocolate making company, Cadbury Confectionery Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., which recalled two of its products detected to contain pig DNA (porcine).

The Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) and SUKAGUAM said that free legal counsel will be provided for anyone who wanted to claim for damages up to RM100 million from the chocolate making company.

"For the Islamic community in Malaysia, it is an insult of the most terrible kind, a lie that is very evil and should be stopped as a lesson to other countries that want to destroy Muslims subtly through the use of halal food.

“The company should never have released the product in the Malaysian market, not to mention that within the company itself there are Muslims, and they have purposely abused their workers in their organization,” said JMM president Azwanddin Hamzah during a press conference at his office here.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit for Cadbury would possibly involve the Consumer Protection Act or a suit over its alleged negligence or failure to provide duty of care.

As of now, the NGOs have already collected 50 people who are willing to give their testimony for purchasing the contaminated Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut with the batch number 200813M01H I2 and expiry date November 13, 2014; and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond with the batch number 221013N01R I1 and expiry date January 15, 2015.

"You need to respect the majority, which are Malay Muslims in this country. In this case, there were no racial sensitivity at all. If it was not halal, just tell us. Why the need to lie? How many fathers have given their children this chocolate?” said Azwanddin, adding that he himself had also given his children the same chocolates.

Azwanddin also said that if Cadbury is unable to pay up a reasonable amount, it was better for it to close down and leave Malaysia entirely until it can get its act together.

“It’s not like Cadbury is a new company, maybe we can try to forgive it. Cadbury has been here for some 40 years, how can it not know about our laws and about halal food?”

Meanwhile, Azwanddin also zeroed in on both the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Health Ministry, which he said must also take responsibility over the controversy.

“I am curious as to how it can happen. I am not accusing anybody but there is the possibility that there are some mismanagement or even abuse of power by these two agencies. This must be investigated,” he said.

According to Azwanddin, JMM has received information that at least 60 other companies are suspected to have items that are contaminated. He said that the information has been passed to the authorities for further action.