Shocking Jakim Raids

SONofODIN

'Shocking' Jakim raids on restaurants
Joyce Tagal Jun 29, 07 11:42am

"I'm Muslim too, I'm Muslim too," says Mohammad Jehapar Ali Hussaien Kader,
who is still in shock and disbelief that his restaurant was raided by
religous officials on Tuesday.

Twenty-five officials from the government religious department Jakim
(Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia) pulled up in front of his Restoran
Aiswaria, in Lorong Maarof, Bangsar, during lunch hour on Tuesday, asking to
see certification that the eatery was halal.

After finding out that Aiswaria had no official halal documentation, the
officials proceeded to take down Quranic verses and a framed picture of the
Kaabah from the restaurant's walls.

According to Mohammed Dhasthasir, one of Aiswaria's workers, officials took
down the verses and picture because they were "misleading".

He said the officers implied that since the restaurant was not certified
halal, Islamic paraphernalia could not be placed on its walls.

The picture and verses were taken by the officials and not returned to the
owner.

The officers filed a report (left) stating that Aiswaria had committed
several offences, including not having halal certification, displaying
Quranic verses not "certified" by Jawi and not hiring Muslim workers.

However, Aiswaria has seven Muslim workers out of a total of 12, including
Mohammed Dhasthasir himself.

"I told them I was Muslim, and I signed the report with my full name!" said
an indignant Dhasthasir. "My name is Mohammed, how could they not know my
religion?"

No proper explanation

Dhasthasir and Ali are also frustrated that the officials took away the
restaurant decorations without proper explanation.

"I am Muslim, so why can't I display Quranic verses? I have them in my car
as well." says Ali. "Just because we have no halal certification, is that a
reason for them to take away my religious decoratives?"

He also lamented the officers' hardline actions. "They should have given us
a three-day notice. I understand if you come to check my halal
certification, but something like the pictures - they should have let us
know and we would have taken them down ourselves." Ali said. "They shouldn't
have taken them away."

"It's akin to legalised robbery." he added.

Dhasthasir says that the officers came in a large pack, although 15 actually
walked into the cafe while the others milled around outside. For 20 minutes,
the officers questioned the workers, looked around the restaurant, took the
pictures and left.

The New Straits Times today also said that the same officers had also
confiscated pictures of Hindu deities from Restaurant Seetharam, an Indian
restaurant on the same block as Aiswaria.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said in a press statement that
the religious authorities should stop their "reign of terror" and called on
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to put them in check.

Referring to the Lorong Maarof raids, he accused them having "little
Napoleons" complex of "not understanding the Merdeka social contract" and
having "contempt for the constitutional rights of all Malaysians".

SONofODIN

It doesn't make sense that this incidence happened to a Muslim owned restaurant. Jakim must be nuts.

aw76

jakim is a power-hungry organization. they act before thinking about the consequences. Trying to make decisions on behalf of people of can think for themselves. If i were the reataurant owner, I'd report the stuff taken as stolen. Haul those people to court.

SONofODIN

Which court? Syariah?

wei_loon5063

Originally posted by SONofODIN at 2-7-2007 06:46 AM
It doesn't make sense that this incidence happened to a Muslim owned restaurant. Jakim must be nuts.

They are not yet trained for this.. they are better with capturing people commiting Khalwat