This was the call made by DAP’s Kasthuri Patto over the recent furore that a non-Muslim food stall operator at a government polytechnic college in Penang did not have his contract renewed as he did not have halal certification or not being “shariah compliant”.
“The education ministry and higher education ministry must ensure that students need not worry about having to look for food according to their health or dietary requirements as required by their individual faiths,” she said.
The Batu Kawan MP was referring to the case of Gobi Krishnan whose application to extend his services at the Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP) as the sole non-Malay, non-Muslim food operator in the canteen was not renewed effective July 1.
“Gobi had complied with the three conditions set by the finance ministry in order to get the relevant certificate prior to his earlier appointment as a food stall operator at the PSP canteen,” she said referring to the requirement for “makanan dan bahan mentah kering/basah” (food and ingredients that are dry/wet), “makanan dan minuman” (food and drinks) and “makanan bermasak bukan Islam” (non-Muslim food).
She added that there was no mention at all of the condition to “membekal makanan bermasak (Islam)” (provide cooked food for Muslims) when Gopi first applied in September 2016 and no mention of the said code when PSP approved his application to run a stall at PSP previously.
The Wanita DAP leader then questioned the basis for bringing up the the new condition when he had provided food at the PSP canteen unperturbed for a whole nine months.
“Why is this (‘makanan Islam’ condition) suddenly brought up? After all, Gopi Krishnan was there to provide food to non-Muslim students who require pure vegetarian food at any given time according to their beliefs, religion or health requirement.
“I find it poor logic by Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan and Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican in defending the decision by the PSP director saying it was being turned into a racial issue,” Kasthuri said.
Contesting the excuse given, that it was administrative, she said the answers given by the two deputy ministers and anyone contesting this issue should have been professionally done arguing over the issues she had mentioned above.
“The legality of this new condition for Gopi’s application is questionable when it is is clearly only applicable to Muslim vendors.
“It is important to note that the same supplier who supplies meat to all the canteen operators, also supplies meat to Gopi Krishnan as well.
“It is indeed hypocritical of the government to promote multiculturalism and multiracialism to the world yet have terribly misplaced priorities when it comes to providing an avenue for students who come from diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to fulfil their dietary requirements according to their belief or for health reasons.”
She called for both the education and higher education ministries to be more transparent, fair, inclusive, open and just in awarding tenders to non-Muslim, non-Malay canteen operators so that students will not have to worry about where to get their meals.
Polytechnic canteen issue: So many questions left unanswered