KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah said today the authorities should shut down the factory that had manufactured chocolates with traces of pig DNA found, as a lesson to others.

In a column published by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian, he said while there is no need to resort to violence, Muslims should not have to compromise on their religious beliefs and urged the authorities to take stern action against those he branded “ultra kiasu” — a mash-up of English and Hokkien referring to an extremist who is afraid of losing.

“I have always said, do not trust the ultra kiasu, I refer to those who oppose Islam and always want to win.

“We have to be firm, no more compromise. No need to burn down the factory as some extremists proposed.

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“Revoke the licence. Close down the chocolate factory. This is a particularly important lesson to other companies,” he wrote in his column.

The Muslim convert warned that inaction would lead to the “ultra kiasu” becoming “more daring”.

“I worry that in the future we would be consuming pork even though not in the form of a real pig,” he said.

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Several media reported the Health Ministry recently detected two samples of the Cadbury chocolate, namely two batches of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Hazelnut and its Dairy Milk Roast Almond which contained porcine DNA.

Following the uproar, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) held a meeting with the Health Ministry, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, the Chemistry Department, and the Department of Standards Malaysia.

The meeting has agreed that Jakim will carry out tests to determine the halal status of the products and the Health Ministry is supposed to submit its analysis officially to Jakim to facilitate investigations. 

The tests is being done by a laboratory in Petaling Jaya authorised by Jakim to issue halal certificates.

Jakim is expected to announce the test results in a news conference today.

“My reminders to Muslims; First, do not get too excited about the food produced by the ultra kiasu.

“I am puzzled as to why Muslims get so enthused as to go to ultra kiasu shops although they don’t have halal certification from Jakim, yong tau foo shops, coffee shops, bakeries with alcohol in their products and more.

“No one is rejecting peace and unity, but those who have ill-intentions, must be taught a lesson,” Ridhuan said.