KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) should take legal action against Cadbury Malaysia for “misusing” its halal certification by selling chocolates tainted with pig DNA, PAS MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said today.

The Pokok Sena MP said allowing non-governmental groups to take the lead in suing the confectionary giant showed that Jakim is not concerned about “being cheated”.

“The company cheated Jakim by misusing its halal certification on a prohibited (haram) product and confused its customers,” said Mahfuz.

“I am perplexed. Jakim can’t be this pious, until they are cheated by this company,” he added.

Earlier this week, Malay-Muslim group Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) said it will be suing Cadbury over its porcine-tainted chocolates for on grounds of consumer negligence and for “misleading” Muslims.

Its president Azwanddin Hamzah chided the chocolatier, saying the company needed to be “taught a lesson” for belittling the Islamic faith in Malaysia.

“They stuffed pigs into our mouths, then apologised. This cannot be allowed. The sensitivities of Malays and Muslims have been challenged,” Azwanddin had said in a news conference on May 26.

In addition to threats of legal action, more than 20 Malay-Muslim groups have also called for a nationwide boycott on all Cadbury products, urging a “jihad” against the chocolate maker for attempting to “weaken” Muslims in Malaysia.

The groups, which include the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), Perkasa, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Darul Islah Malaysia (Perkid), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and the Halal Muslim Entrepreneurs’ Association (Puhm), claimed that Cadbury had “crossed the line” by selling tainted chocolates, and that swift action was needed.

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

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

The company said that 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”.

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

But Mahfuz warned that the transgression could recur if stricter action and penalty is not imposed.

“It is not like representatives from Jakim or the Health Ministry are permanently seated in Cadbury’s office everyday, which means the company may have been cheating on its other products as well,” he said.