KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — A group of Malay NGOs today lodged a police report against the Health Ministry and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), demanding a thorough probe into the ongoing confusion over the status of two Cadbury products that allegedly contained porcine DNA.
Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) president Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah, who lodged the report on behalf of the NGOs, said the flip-flop on the consumability of the two products by Muslims was unacceptable.
He said the conflicting statements issued by the ministry and Jakim only served to confuse the public, as they are still unclear on the consumability of the two products by Muslims.
“Don't fool around. This is about the faith of the Muslim community. Which chocolates did Jakim check to say it is halal? The health ministry had proof of pork DNA, so check those chocolates,” he told journalists after spending two hours at the Dang Wangi police station to lodge the report.
“When the health ministry issued the statement, the chocolates were still being sold at major supermarkets, at highway rest stops... why didn't they take those chocolates?
“They (Jakim) can so easily say it is halal, but who will take responsibility? We urge the police to arrest (those responsible in) the health ministry and Jakim,” he said.
Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah said the ministry and Jakim should have worked together from the start to properly explain how the products could have been contaminated with porcine DNA.
He claimed his group has already found the individual who leaked the initial ministry report on the pork DNA findings and will expose the issue based on the person's information in the next few days.
“If it is true there was contamination, the rakyat must know how it happened. This is important because I believe the Muslims in this country have already lost confidence in Jakim and the Health Ministry,” he said.
Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) activist Datuk Nadzim Johan, however called for calm, saying the Health Ministry and Jakim should be allowed space to get their acts together.
He said both agencies have already done enough damage by confusing the public on whether or not Muslims can consume the two products, and the onus now falls on them to come to a consensus on how to deal with the issue.
“We urge consumers to relax. Nobody is forcing you to eat (the chocolates). If tomorrow a clear statement is made, then we can decide because if you are still unsure, it is not proper to eat.
“We ask that this issue be handled as best possible. We can't expect the PM to deal with even this problem,” he said referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
On Monday, Jakim said no pig DNA was found in 11 samples of Cadbury's Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Dairy Milk Roast Almond products, which were sent to a special accredited laboratory for testing.
On May 24, the Health Ministry announced that it detected porcine DNA contamination in samples of the two products already out in the market, sparking an uproar among Muslim groups.
Jakim pointed out the Health Ministry’s samples were not taken directly from Cadbury’s factory, suggesting that this resulted in possible contamination and flawed test results.
The Health Ministry is now on the hunt for the party who leaked a preliminary report on the chocolates, which Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya said was released prematurely before the findings could be corroborated.
