PPIM urges govt to be more serious in protecting Muslim interests

The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) urged the government to be more serious and committed in protecting the interest of Muslims, as well as the dignity and integrity of Islamic institutions such as the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).

Its Secretary-General, Datuk Dr Ma'amor Osman said that an awareness was created during the recent findings of pig DNA (porcine) in two batches of Cadbury chocolates where that the halal certification system can sabotage a country's economy and create a disaster.

"PPIM suggests for the government to immediately form a 'halal product Act' and for Jakim and the State Islamic Departments to be strenghtened with sufficient funding," he stated in a statement.

Dr Ma'amor added that the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Food Safety and Quality Division should be headed by experts, without ignoring Jakim and other related agencies.

"The division was previously headed by public health specialists, but it has been taken over by food technology specialists," he added.

PPIM also suggested for more accredited laboratories so that the confirmation of the presence of porcine DNA can be detected without any doubts.

Earlier, MOH said it did not rule out the possibility of the two Cadbury chocolate samples which were tested positive for porcine DNA of being contaminated.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said these samples were taken from shelves and not from the factory.

"The result is still positive but the particular sample taken from the place that might possibly be contaminated cannot be ruled out.

"We are not doubting the lab test but the sample was not taken from the factory," he told Bernama on Tuesday.