Of late, whether you are aware or not or those around you would have probably advised you, there seems to be a certain amount of viral TikTok videos reviewing eateries without JAKIM halal certification that have sparked significant debate across Malaysia.
While some content creators focus on intentionally highlighting non-halal (e.g., pork-serving) spots, many others feature popular "pork-free" F&B chains that operate without official halal certs despite being highly popular with Muslim diners.
Eateries without official certification often use "no pork, no lard" signs merely as a factual courtesy for non-Muslims, not to deceive Muslims.
And none of them ever hold themselves out as Halal.
For a non Muslim F & B business, no sane businessman / woman would waste the opportunity to display the Halal certification because having and getting a Halal certification is a badge of honor, obtained only after undergoing strict vetting processes and incurring costs to train and maintain the same standards consistently.
Critics would argue then why does these f & b business display the `"no pork, no lard" and "pork-free" sign?
Wasn’t the intent to lure and deceive the Muslims?
For the UNKNOWING and UNINIATED, there are many non Muslims out there not only in Malaysia but throughout the world, who doesn’t consume pork.
Are these UNKNOWING and UNINIATED aware that observant Jews do not consume pork because it violates their religious dietary laws?
Many devout Buddhists and Hindus practice vegetarianism out of compassion and respect for all life, naturally abstaining not only pork but all meats.
Seventh-day Adventists and Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christians also does not consume pork, labeling pork as an "unclean" meat.
The signage could be an attempt to welcome a wider, open-minded demographic, not a malicious lot.
Though the content creators claimed it was done to inform the Muslims, this trend of highlighting `"no pork, no lard" and "pork-free", if left unchecked, could have a far reaching consequences to the f & b business in this country.
These videos often draw significant social media attention, polarizing audiences.
Are you aware that Malaysia's F&B sector is a multibillion-ringgit industry, generating over RM99 billion in gross output annually and housing over 136,000 establishments?
Accounting for roughly 3.2% of the national GDP, it is dominated by independent operators and micro-SMEs, employing more than 1 million workers across the country.
When TikTok content creators single out uncertified F&B businesses with "no pork, no lard" signs to warn their followers, it can lead to targeted boycotts and hostile comment sections.
Many industry observers view this as a threat to overall F&B business viability, as it damages reputations, discourages inclusivity, and provokes unnecessary racial and religious friction.
The choice is yours to make and do not ask your Religious Minister to address this issue as it appears that no one listens or care about what he wants to say.
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