KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s religious body has come under ridicule after it ordered food outlets in the country to rename hotdogs or risk having their halal certification refused. The ruling covers all food items that has the word ‘dog’ in it.
The Department of Islamic Development’s director of halal division Sirajuddin Suhaimee said: “In Islam, dogs are considered unclean and the name cannot be related to halal certification. Any [halal] products that make consumers confused, we have to change.” Sirajuddin said that the decision was taken following complaints from Muslim tourists from overseas.
“The improvement process is being conducted from time to time. Malaysia’s good name as a pioneering ‘halal global’ figure needs to be improved,” he told The Star.
The religious authority will carry out checks on a systematic basis when the outlets renew their two-year halal certification with the body.
Hotdogs are sold by street vendors and halal restaurants in Malaysia. US pretzel chain Aunty Anne’s which has 45 outlets in Malaysia told AFP that it plans to follow the advice from the authorities and change the name of Pretzel Dogs — its sausages wrapped with pretzels.
“It’s a minor issue. We are fine with changing the name and are still working on it,” said Farhatul Kamilah Mohamed Sazali, its halal executive at Aunty Anne’s in Malaysia.
