RESTAURANTS displaying the halal logo and certificates without proper authorisation may confuse Muslim customers and action can be taken against the owners, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry Penang director Ridzuan Abdul Ghafar.
“Halal slaughter certificates issued to individuals are not for display at restaurant premises as a sign of providing halal food.
“The way of slaughtering may be according to the Islamic method but it does not mean that the premises source their meat from halal suppliers.
“The display of the halal logo can be deceiving,” he told reporters after an operation around Little India in George Town, Penang.
Ridzuan added that two nasi kandar restaurants were found to have misused the halal logo.
The first outlet displayed halal logos on their menus without proper halal certification, and the operator could be punished under the department’s Perintah 4(1) Perihal Dagangan (Takrif Halal) 2011 which carries a penalty of not more than RM200,000 for the first offence and a penalty of not more than RM500,000 for the second offence.
“The second outlet displayed a halal slaughter certificate at their counter which was issued for individual use only,” said Ridzuan.
Companies can be fined up to RM5mil and individuals RM1mil with possible imprisonment.
The joint operation saw checks done at four restaurants in Little India by the ministry, Penang Island City Council and the Penang Islamic Religious Council.
Three out of the four outlets checked were found to have violated the Perintah Perihal Dagangan (Takrif Halal) 2011 while the fourth displayed al-Quran posters and signs as a false representation of halal premises.
Ridzuan said the MBPP also issued 10 compounds following earlier checks on 45 outlets.
“On our side, we have issued warnings to two premises and taken action against three earlier,” he said.
The operation will continue until the end of the month.
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