KLUANG: Banners displaying the words ‘guaranteed halal’ were prominently featured during the procession of Perikatan Nasional candidates for the Mahkota by-election on Saturday (Sept 14).

When asked about the banners, Perikatan chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said they were nothing unusual.

“We purposely displayed the banners; it is up to the public to interpret their meaning,” he said.

He said this when reporters met him at the nomination centre for the Mahkota by-election at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail on Saturday (Sept 14).

Perikatan supporters gathered at the Taman Tasik public car park before marching to Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail for nomination day.

It was recently reported that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was considering making halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol.

On Tuesday (Sept 3), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said that several laws would need to be amended, and various agencies would need to ensure compliance to enforce mandatory halal certification.

In another matter, Muhyiddin also addressed the proposal to appoint Akmal Zahin Zainal Zahir as the new Bersatu Youth (Armada) chief, which aims to reduce tensions ahead of the upcoming party elections next month.

“I will leave it to the Armada leadership to make the necessary decisions,” he said.

On Sept 10, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal announced his intention to contest for a supreme council seat in the upcoming party polls.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/14/mahkota-polls-nothing-unusual-about-039guaranteed-halal039-banners-says-muhyiddin