KUCHING: Directives have gone out to several government bodies to clean the mess created by Golden Churn Creamery Butter which has been declared as non-halal by the state Islamic Religious Department.
Enforcement officers have been directed to check on Kek Lapis outlets while those who still keep stock must get rid of it.
Those who had previously used Golden Churn Creamery Butter, which has been found to be tainted with swine DNA, have been directed to clean all their utensils according to the tenets of the religion.
Yesterday, state director of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman cautioned that action would be taken against those who still sell Kek Lapis baked using the tainted butter.
“Actions will be taken under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011,” he said, adding that he had instructed all his men to commence checking all outlets which sell Kek Lapis to make sure that they toe the line.
The Department of Chemistry had, on July 19, confirmed the existence of swine DNA in the
butter.
When met at a function here yesterday, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman revealed that the
majority of Kek Lapis sellers in the state had halal certificates.
But those who had used Golden Churn Creamery Butter before must cleanse all their utensils according to the tenets of Islam.
“They will have to cleanse their utensils…there is no other way. This is the easiest way. For those who still have Kek Lapis stock there is no other way but to dispose it. We will instruct Jais (Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak) to make sure that the utensils used by all Kek Lapis sellers are cleansed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wan Ahmad urged the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) to issue an official statement on the status of Golden Church Creamery butter.
“Based on the recent meeting between the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism and Jais, the latter said that Golden Churn Creamery butter butter is not halal.
“This will be the state’s stand but there must be an official statement by Jakim as it is the higher authority than Jais,” he said.
Wan Ahmad said a statement from Jakim would be a unified stand for the whole country to avoid confusion among Muslim consumers.