Jakim said a recent check on the Halal Malaysia Portal confirmed that Roti Ikhwan products are not certified halal, thus violating the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, specifically the Halal Certification and Marking Order 2011.

The Halal Certification and Marking Order 2011 stipulates that all food and goods must be officially certified as halal and bear the appropriate logo to ensure they are permissible for consumption by Muslims.

“Jakim has contacted the domestic trade and cost of living ministry, as well as the respective state Islamic religious departments to take immediate enforcement action, following this discovery,” it said in a Facebook post.

“Should it be found that the halal logo or certification has been misused, the company could face legal action under the Act.”

If members of the public suspect there is any misuse or forgery of halal certification, they are urged to report the matter via email to [email protected] for further investigations and action.

Jakim’s response comes after social media users raised concerns about the halal logo being used on the packaging of Roti Ikhwan products.

According to its Facebook page, Roti Ikhwan is fully owned by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) and is “currently in the process of obtaining halal certification”.

GISBH came under scrutiny after police raided 20 of its welfare homes and rescued 402 children who were allegedly sexually assaulted, abused and abandoned.

‘That’s an old photo’

In a Facebook post, Global Ikhwan Utara clarified that the photo of its Roti Ikhwan bread being circulated on social media is an old image, taken when the bread was produced at its former factory.

“The halal certification expired on May 31, 2017, and was not renewed due to the factory’s relocation,” the company said.