Whose fault if you don’t see ‘pork’ on Ninja Joe’s ad? MCA asks

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 ― MCA has defended fast food outlet Ninja Joe today, saying that the latter should not be blamed if the public fails to understand that the chain sells pork despite open admission for its P. Ramly homage burger.

The Barisan Nasional component said the company cannot be accused of misleading consumers that it sells halal products, chiding state religious authorities instead for trying interfere into the constitutional rights and practices of non-Muslims.

“The word 'pork' was conspicuously written beneath the word 'P. Ramly burger', hence how could anyone be confused as to which animal pork meat is defined as or referred to?

“If a diner or passerby can sight 'P. Ramly burger', but did not see the word 'pork' written below, whose fault should it be?” asked party's religious harmony bureau chief Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

Instead, Ti said passerbys could only become “confused” if they were illiterate and was attracted by the picture of the burger, did not read English, or did not know that pork equals meat from swine.

Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and its Negri Sembilan counterpart JHEAINS had earlier this week admitted that they are investigating Ninja Joe for allegedly confusing Muslims, in addition to confiscating several items from its stores.

Jais and JHEAINS previously told Malay Mail Online they have the authority to conduct inspection on companies or any business premises deemed to have violated Section 4(1) of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 — even if they belonged to non-Muslims.

“The jurisdiction of state religious authorities are limited to Muslims only and should not interfere into the constitutional rights and practices of non-Muslims,” Ti reminded.

“Surely, the majority of Malaysians are much wiser and confident in the faith they respectively profess than how Jais or JHEAINS portray them to be,” he added.

The Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumer Affairs Ministry has since said that it will take action against Ninja Joe if any wrongdoing is found.