YY Eating Place

Apparently, while I was away in KL, there was a big story about the discovery of pork-derived enzyme being used in the making of pau (chinese dumplings) by one of the famous retaurant chains here. I was told that the name of the restaurant was mentioned in the radio's mid-day news. However, in subsequent news (by radio and television), the name of the restaurant was removed and not broadcasted.

Someone wrote to the Opinion page of the Weekend Edition of Borneo Bulletin (reproduced here).

Why wasn't the restaurant named?

I would like to congratulate the media for highlighting the issue of 'Halal Haram' and credits also go to the relevant authority involved in the issue.

What saddened me is that when the news was out, it went something like 'therefore all Muslims are forewarned not to buy the 'special pau' from the restaurant and its outlets' without mentioning the name of the establishment involved.

How would the public know which restaurant or shop that sells this 'special pau'?

I wonder as to what happened to the transparency of reporting such news as the issue is not something that can be neglected and it involves on ones faith and religion.

I would understand if an establishment is trying to promote their products and by mentioning the name of the establishment, it would be considered, as an advertisement and must be paid for.

But, in this issue, it is NOT about promoting products. It is a 'WARNING' to the public especially all Muslims, yet no names are mentioned.

So how would the public know?

Is it a policy of secrecy or is it to safeguard the identity of the establishment for whatever reason?

What about the transparency of the news for the general public? If this is the case, then anyone who has done crime can request for his or her name NOT to be mentioned in the news.

I would prefer transparent news especially in issues concerning faith and religion.

- Reader

I could not agree more with 'Reader' on this issue. It brings into question; whose interest is being protected here? Is it the interest of the eating establishment, that they would lose business? Is it the interest of other eating establishments, that the restaurant in question gains some free publicity? Is it in the interest of the public, who would probably not realised which restaurant it was and continue to patron the restaurant?

Continuing on the halal haram issue, there are many products which are deemed unsuitable for consumption for Muslims and being segregated away in a shop, while in another shop these products are sold together with other products which are ok for consumption by Muslims. Who is supposed to enforce this segregation, is it the shop, the licensing authority or the Islamic Religious authority?