Armizan said his ministry was discussing the matter with the Islamic development department (Jakim).

“There have been calls for the penalties to be increased as it (the halal logo) touches on Muslim sensitivities,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

He was responding to a supplementary question by Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai), who wanted to know if the government plans to increase the penalties for those who misuse the halal logo, saying the existing penalty was too low.

Armizan said the ministry was looking into penalising premises that fail to vet a product’s halal status before selling it.

He also expressed hope that supermarkets would cross-check the halal status of products sold at their outlets with the halal portal.

Controversy was sparked in January after concerns were raised over the use of the halal logo on pre-packed chicken ham and cheese sandwiches sold at a KK Mart outlet.

The chain subsequently suspended all business dealings with the supplier, Shake And Bake Cafe Sdn Bhd, which had insisted that the meat used in the sandwiches was halal certified.

Shake and Bake Cafe and its managing director, Ewe Sarn Yuen, have since been taken to court, where they pleaded not guilty to a charge of misusing the halal logo.

On Feb 16, Armizan revealed that no traces of porcine DNA were found in a “ham” sandwich sold at the minimarket.