KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 ― The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) must consider stricter laws and regulations on halal products nationwide, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers' Association (PPIM) said today.

PPIM president Datuk Nadzim Johan said that Cadbury's porcine-tainted chocolates was proof that current halal enforcement measures were inadequate and that as a result many Muslims had been “tricked” into consuming non-halal products.

“We have been telling Jakim for almost 15 years to introduce a proper, comprehensive Halal Act. Currently we do not have a piece of legislation which is focused on ensuring the halal quality of products.

“As a Muslim country, the absence of such an act is strange...it would have protected us,” he told reporters at a news conference here.

Confectionary giant Cadbury’s Malaysian outfit scrambled to recall two batches of chocolate products found tainted with porcine DNA by the Health Ministry on Saturday.

In a statement, the company said it was informed that samples of its Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and the Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond that had been sent to the ministry had “tested positive for traces of porcine DNA”.

Nadzim also called for the relevant authorities to strip all Cadbury products of their halal status pending a mass audit and probe into the company's operations in Malaysia.

He also proposed that “random halal checks” be done on other companies such as Maggi once every two months to ensure “everyone” complied with necessary requirements.

“The government and authorities have been too soft on these companies, this cannot go on any longer!” Nadzim added.

Jakim has already suspended the halal certification of the two porcine-tainted Cadbury chocolate products.

Rumours of the porcine taint first cropped up on social media sites last week, prompting the Health Ministry to carry out an analysis.