• Wednesday, 06 November 2024

The Ban on Christmas Greetings at Halal Bakeries Lifted in Malaysia

The Ban on Christmas Greetings at Halal Bakeries Lifted in Malaysia
Christmas decorations in the mall. Photo: AFP

SEAToday.com, Petaling Jaya-As Christmas approaches, from Sunday (17/12), bakeries in Malaysia with halal certificates can now write and display any festive greeting on their cakes or confectionery. The new rule from the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) overturns an earlier ban on the public display of food items with festive greetings of non-Muslim faiths.

In December 2020, it was reported that former Jakim deputy director general (operations) Abdul Aziz Jusoh had said that halal-certified shops were only allowed to put festive greetings on products that weren’t on public display.

The Jakim directive was cited by a local bakery chain when it refused customers’ requests to write Christmas greetings, with the owners saying they feared losing their halal certification if they did not comply.

The bakery subsequently issued a circular to all its employees to decline customer requests to write Christmas greetings on any of its products and only provide a “Season’s Greetings” cake topper instead. This caused controversy.

The new ruling thus clarifies and allows Christmas greetings on cakes, while the alleged bakery chain has issued a note of clarification on the circular.

Share
News Update
Minister Erick Thohir Cancels Rp14 Trillion Terminal 4 Project at Soekarno-Hatta, Shifts Focus to Upgrading Existing Terminals

Minister Erick Thohir Cancels Rp14 Trillion Terminal 4 Project at Soekarno-Hatta, Shifts Focus to Up...

President Prabowo Receives Credentials from Seven Newly Appointed...

On Monday (11/4), President Prabowo Subianto received Letters of Credence from seven Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Merdeka Palace.

Jakarta Government to Fund Tuition, Supplies, and Fees for Select...

Acting Head of the Jakarta Education Agency, Purwosusilo, recently announced that the city’s free private school program will not only eliminate tuition and registration fees but also cover essential equipment for studen...

Mount Lewotobi Eruption Shuts Down Four Airports, Disrupting Regi...

The Indonesian Aviation Navigation Service Provider Corporation (LPPNPI) or AirNav Indonesia’s Kupang Branch has announced that four airports on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), are temporarily closed following t...

Eastern Spain Flash Floods Kill Over 200 People

Flash floods that swept Eastern Spain on Tuesday (10/29) evening and early Wednesday had killed at least 217 people with dozens still missing, said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday (11/2).E

Trending