The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), which has been at the forefront in protesting against Cadbury, says the consumers' boycott will continue despite today's anouncement the chocolate maker's products are now found to be free from pig DNA.
It said that while it respects the announcement on the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s (Jakim) latest findings, the call for a boycott of all Cadbury products by PPIM and other NGOs was made based solely on the Health Ministry’s initial statement declaring the presence of porcine DNA in the food product.
“The consumer boycott will go on as long as the Health Ministry does not deny its previous statement where the ministry confirmed the existence of porcine DNA in Cadbury Daily Milk chocolate, with hazelnuts," it said in a statement today.
The Health Ministry on May 24 confirmed the presence of pig DNA or porcine in two Cadbury products which were certified halal, sparking outrage among Muslims and prompting PPIM to call a boycott of the chocolate maker.
Following this, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) on May 26, submitted fresh samples from the same batch of Cadbury chocolates tested by the Health Ministry to the Chemistry Department which results today showed there were in fact no pig DNA.
However, when contacted by Malaysiakini, PPIM chief activist Nadzim Johan (left) questioned why Jakim could get the test results on the affected products in less than a week, when it took the Health Ministry three months.
"Is it because Jakim is faster and more efficient, making the Health Ministry's results are redundant?
"In that case it would be better for the Health Ministry's lab to just close down," he quipped.
"We're not running like Usain Bolt to buy Cadbury chocolates," said Nadzim in reference to the current world's fastest sprinter.
'Too rushed'
He added the rush to address this issue did not inspire confidence giving the Fatwa Council as another example.
He queried how the Fatwa Council chairperson Abdul Shukor Husin could unilaterally rule that Cadbury chocolates were still halal despite the initial results claiming the chocolates were tainted with porcine DNA.
"If the Fatwa council wants to issue an edict it has to convene a meeting, but there was none. He made his own decision. Why? (Did he) have any interest?" he asked.
Nadzim said until these questions are cleared up, consumers will not trust Cadbury's products.
However, a Reuters report earlier has quoted a Health Ministry official as saying that the entire matter has been handed over to Jakim.
Cadbury 'delighted'
It said that while it respects the announcement on the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s (Jakim) latest findings, the call for a boycott of all Cadbury products by PPIM and other NGOs was made based solely on the Health Ministry’s initial statement declaring the presence of porcine DNA in the food product.
“The consumer boycott will go on as long as the Health Ministry does not deny its previous statement where the ministry confirmed the existence of porcine DNA in Cadbury Daily Milk chocolate, with hazelnuts," it said in a statement today.
The Health Ministry on May 24 confirmed the presence of pig DNA or porcine in two Cadbury products which were certified halal, sparking outrage among Muslims and prompting PPIM to call a boycott of the chocolate maker.
Following this, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) on May 26, submitted fresh samples from the same batch of Cadbury chocolates tested by the Health Ministry to the Chemistry Department which results today showed there were in fact no pig DNA.However, when contacted by Malaysiakini, PPIM chief activist Nadzim Johan (left) questioned why Jakim could get the test results on the affected products in less than a week, when it took the Health Ministry three months.
"Is it because Jakim is faster and more efficient, making the Health Ministry's results are redundant?
"In that case it would be better for the Health Ministry's lab to just close down," he quipped.
"We're not running like Usain Bolt to buy Cadbury chocolates," said Nadzim in reference to the current world's fastest sprinter.
'Too rushed'
He added the rush to address this issue did not inspire confidence giving the Fatwa Council as another example.
He queried how the Fatwa Council chairperson Abdul Shukor Husin could unilaterally rule that Cadbury chocolates were still halal despite the initial results claiming the chocolates were tainted with porcine DNA."If the Fatwa council wants to issue an edict it has to convene a meeting, but there was none. He made his own decision. Why? (Did he) have any interest?" he asked.
Nadzim said until these questions are cleared up, consumers will not trust Cadbury's products.
However, a Reuters report earlier has quoted a Health Ministry official as saying that the entire matter has been handed over to Jakim.
Cadbury 'delighted'
In an immediate response to the new test results, Cadbury said it was "delighted" at the announcement that its products did not contain porcine DNA.
"We assure our customers and consumers that all our products are properly labelled and consumers can enjoy them with confidence.
"Our manufacturing processes follow Jakim’s halal regulatory guidelines and have the benefit of certification by Jakim as a result," said Cadbury head of corporate affairs Raja Zalina Raja Safran.
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