TAWAU: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid wants supermarkets that flout regulations, especially concerning ‘halal’ food, to be fined instead of given warnings.
Jainab said she and the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (KPDNKK) would make their rounds to ensure supermarkets took the matter seriously.
“Tomorrow, I am going to several places with KPDNKK. I don’t want warnings anymore. I want (operators) to be fined,” she said yesterday at her Hari Raya open house at Belunu Road.
She said she would do this before going back to Kota Kinabalu to ensure supermarkets in particular, understood and complied with the regulations.
Jainab said business operators in Malaysia should know the meaning of ‘halal’ and not merely putting up the ‘halal’ logo.
She said business owners must ensure their employees knew about ‘halal’ as it was more than just a logo.
Jainab also said she wanted to see glutinous rice available by tomorrow as the supply was scarce before Hari Raya.
She said Bernas had informed her that shipment had been delayed, but she wanted to know why there was shortage.
She said people should not be too greedy by buying large quantities and selling at higher prices, especially in the rural areas.
Among the guests attending Jainab’s open house were Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh, Sebatik assemblyman Abdul Muis Picho, Chief Minister’s political secretary Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, MIC Tawau chairman Datuk Victor Rajasekran and deputy Rosman Abdul Razak.