HALAL STATUS FOR PAK LI KOPITIAM

Pak Li kopitiam was first recognizing in Klang thirty years ago. This restaurant is famously known with their nyonya style signature dish among their customers. Pak Li kopitiam is owned until today by Chinese family which had nyonya-blood through their generations. This restaurant appears to have many branches around Selangor especially at Shah Alam, Damansara and Klang Valley. As these restaurants owned by Chinese family, already known by lot of Malaysian people then appear in our mind as Muslim customers weather the food served by this restaurant is HALAL or non-HALAL to consume.

Figure above: Official logo for Pak Li kopitiam

According to Pak Li kopitiam official website, they stated that their chef, or food preparation`s workers are mostly Muslim and their food was HALAL. As this restaurant exists in local student area, around university which majority of the student is Muslim, an observation being carried out there. From the observation, this restaurant already had HALAL logo but not authorized from JAKIM (an authorized Islamic body in Malaysia) but HALAL logo from Islamic Food Research Centre Asia, Malaysia and Asia Region.

Figure above: Halal logo which is not authorized by JAKIM

In islamic perspective, consuming HALAL food are compulsory to all mukmin. This hukm already illustrated from vouched of Allah from surah Al-Araf : 157

Mafhum: Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they, who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.

From the verse above, it already give us the guidance how to select food to consume. Allah only permitted us the good things to eat not the bad thing. In this case, we already have an authorized panelist to judge and make decision to us either the food served or manufactured are good or bad after undergo little judgment setting just to ensure that the food followed Islamic ruling. Al-yaqin La yuzal bi syaq ( The certainty must not be dispelled by doubt) is another prove from Qawaidul Fiqqiyah rules which then give explanation to Muslim community in Malaysia not to consume, eat or buy something which is not authorized by JAKIM give a nutshell to the case appear here about consuming food served by Pak Li kopitiam.

Besides, by checking the HALAL status of this restaurant from JAKIM website redirecting to Direktori Halal Malaysia which consumer can checked the premises or product which have JAKIM HALAL logo, poorly this restaurant is not in the list.

In contras, the point of view from Muslim people about this restaurant can be divided into three groups: a) Consumed and love to eat at this premise: Most of them did not aware about the authority of HALAL logo present at the food premise, cannot recognize the correct authorized HALAL logo either from JAKIM or other organization due to lack information, concern and awareness about HALAL product. b) Consumed, if there is no choice at several situation falling to them: Means, this group of consumer aware about HALAL logo existed in such food premises, they did not go to order or consumed the food EXCEPT they do not have other choice at the time they wish to eat. For example given by them are : they must facing crowded people during lunch time while time limited or no other food available at such place except the most yaqin HALAL food comes from those premises. c) Not consumed at all: Means they really understand, concern and aware about HALAL logo and food.

The second group of people above used the excuse in Qawaidul Fiqqiyah under categorize of Al-masyaqqah tajlibut taisir (necessity appear lead to easy way out) as they only consumed the food if they facing difficulties at such place. But, one thing should be considered as long as the condition do not falling under dharuriyy condition, this Qawaidul Fiqqiyah concept cannot be applied. Yes, those people manage to used this concept if they go to non-muslim country which really difficult to find HALAL food sources like Beijing, Bangkok etc, it is forgiven for them. But in our Malaysian environment, in muslim country, we have lots of HALAL food choices with HALAL logo from JAKIM which confirm it authority towards HALAL product as this organization already east us doing the checking to the food either or not to comply the syariah law. Muslim should beware and understand with their heart, that everything that we consumed will become part of our body especially our blood and muscles. Both blood

and muscles made up our body for ibadah. We cannot performing ibadah if inside our body containing HARAM or MASYBUH food. A hadith stated : Rasulullah saw said What is halal is clear and what is haram is clear and in between them are things that many people do not know whether they are halal or not. He who keep away from them will protect his religion and he will be saved. He who approaches them will be very near to haram. (muttafaqun alaih). This muttafaqun alaih hadith already prove to us that muslim should not approach themselves towards MASYBUH things as it is very near to HARAM. As long as we can find food product or premises with HALAL JAKIM logo, then why we should go to places that served food in midway term (masybuh). Although this premise claim that their business is hygienic, based on standard in term of personal hygiene or practices in food preparation, but these fact still not enough to comply the syariah law about HALAL food. We should remembered that not every hygienic food is HALAL but all HALAL food are hygienic. This statement is based on evidence from vouched of Allah az-zawajjal in surah Al-baqarah: 168.

Mafhum: O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

Muslim should increase their awareness towards recognizing HALAL LOGO whether that logo are authorized or not either in national or international level. In conclusion, the HALAL status for this restaurant is unsure and MASYBUH.