KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10: The strong support from both her party, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and members of public, was quite evident as Member of Parliament for Seputeh, Teresa Kok, turned up at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here today for an investigation into a recent statement.
More than 20 questions were posed to her by the police for her statement on a proposal by JAKIM to make it mandatory for all restaurants except those serving pork and alcohol to have the Halal certification.
Apart from her two lawyers, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bangi, Syahredzan Johan and Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, DAP leaders including National Chairman Lim Guan Eng, and Klang MP Ganabatirau Veraman and DAP Youth Leader and Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii were also present at Bukit Aman.
Speaking to reporters after her meet with the police, that took an hour and half, Teresa Kok said she had given her full support for the investigation.
A former minister of primary industries, the MP said she had been always promoting Malaysian halal certification to foreign countries since the time she held the post of Exco for Trade and Industry and Investment in Selangor.
She said she had also encouraged foreign investors to come to Malaysia for Halal certification as it was among the highest in standards globally.
“I have a responsibility towards my constituency…I did not in anyway question the Halal institution or the role of Jakim or disrespect Islam.”
Ramkarpal also urged the police to carry out a full investigation as many other statements had been issued by various factionson the matter. This would ensure that a full investigation had been carried out by the police, he said.
Lim Guan Eng meanwhile reiterated the DAP’s stand that Teresa Kok had been performing her duty as a MP, voicing out what would be concerns from members of the food service industry.
In the last two days, many industry members and the general public have also voiced out their support in the social media platforms for the statement made by Teresa Kok.
— WE