The former Umno Youth chief said everyone must respect Muslim sensitivities rather than dismiss such issues as trivial.

“It’s not just about the sandwiches. This is about maintaining the credibility of halal certification. When a company misuses the halal logo, it undermines trust and creates unnecessary anxiety,” he said in the latest episode of his Keluar Sekejap podcast today.

Khairy, a former minister, said there must be stricter enforcement of halal certification requirements, maintaining that it was not merely about a religious obligation.

“It’s a matter of consumer trust. This issue needs to be taken seriously, not dismissed as trivial,” he added.

Convenience store KK Mart has suspended its business dealings with the supplier of the pre-packed sandwiches after concerns were raised about the use of the halal logo on the packaging.

The Islamic development department, or Jakim, later confirmed that the meat used in the sandwiches was certified halal but the sandwiches, along with the company that produced them, were not halal-certified.

Jakim and the domestic trade and cost of living ministry are probing the case.

Why hasn’t Anwar contacted Trump?

Separately, Khairy asked why Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has yet to initiate contact with newly sworn-in US president Donald Trump.

He said several Southeast Asian leaders, including Singapore prime minister Lawrence Wong and Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, had already spoken with Trump via phone calls.

Even the Philippine president had held discussions with Trump, he added.

“Why hasn’t our prime minister reached out yet? Malaysia is the Asean chair this year, and we need to demonstrate strong leadership and engagement on the global stage. Delays like this can send the wrong signal,” Khairy said.

He said early contact with the new US president carried weight, adding that it was not about the phone call per se.

“It’s about showing that we’re proactive in our role as Asean chair and maintaining Malaysia’s relevance in global affairs.”