forged stickers

contrary to what pok ku felt that non muslims will think what’s the big fuss about, no, i don’t. i am aware this is something serious and i understand the fuss from muslims. what am i talking about? i’m talking about the non halal sausages from some food retail factories in selayang.

this article ‘credibility is everything’ from the new straits times (NST) editor speaks my sentiments. i was thinking too if people forged fake hologram sticker for CD, or even counterfeit money, it’s not that bad (as compare to forged halal sticker i mean) because as the NST editor pointed out:
“Unlike other counterfeit labels, which are meant to dupe the buyer into believing the fake, pirated or smuggled product is genuine or legitimate, forging the halal logo strikes far deeper into consumers’ misapprehensions. Is nothing sacred?”

yes since this has to do with a person’s religious standing, it is not something nice to do so. well, our DPM had called on action against these people who ‘abuse’ the halal logo.

at this, i wonder how does the islamic development dept. (JAKIM) goes about issuing the halal logo. in that same article by the NST ed, it says that ‘halal certification is provided only after the most stringent examination, not just of the ingredients going into any food product, but also of the processes in its production’. does this means JAKIM officers has to go round checking food factories? or they only check on those who apply for the halal sticker?

here it talks about the process of the food’s production also matters, and like pok ku also said, animals that are killed in accidents will be consider not halal. so this doesn’t mean it is only khinzir that is consider not halal? a cow that is killed in an accident then prepared as food will be consider not halal?

oh ya back to pok ku’s post, there’s a nice comment by one jordan as follows:
“Being strict is nice, but being too strict can be silly. When my wife went to study in Canada, she and the other Malay students were given some good advice: ask if something has pork or other pig products, but accept the answer whatever it is. I read in another blog that even being stored in the same refrigerator as pork makes chicken or beef haram. Now that’s silly.”

indeed. one must not get carried away when adhering to one’s religious’s belief/standings. sometimes there are some extreme muslims who don’t even want to share the same table with his/her friend who is eating pork. but of course it works both ways. non muslims too must be sensitive towards muslims and try not to eat pork in front of muslims, if they can help it.

i’m quite interested in about this halal process. i know i’m very ignorant over it, so to muslim friends, don’t feel offended if i say anything wrong eh as i don’t mean it. if you can point me to somewhere where i can read up about the halal process, what and how is halal, i would appreciate it. someone in pok ku’s comments gave me a good link about islam but i searched for halal and can’t find anything.

NOTE: read about jeff ooi’s take on this subject here.