Tengku Zafrul Slammed for Dining at “Non-Halal” Spot in Penang — Restaurant Owner Breaks Silence
Tengku Zafrul Sparks Controversy Over “Non-Halal” Restaurant Visit in Penang
Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, has landed in a social media storm after sharing photos of himself dining at a Chinese restaurant in Penang — one that many netizens claim is “non-halal.”
The firestorm began when Tengku Zafrul uploaded pictures to his official Facebook page, showing him enjoying some of Penang’s iconic dishes such as prawn kway teow, laksa, and oyster omelette at a popular Michelin-recognised eatery.
“There was such a long queue at Penang Road Famous Laksa. People aren’t joking when they say that if it’s delicious, they’ll queue. Especially at a Michelin-recognised spot! That’s not easy to get,” he wrote.
But the post quickly triggered backlash from some members of the public, particularly those questioning his judgment as a Muslim minister dining at a place they claim lost its halal certification.
Zafrul Defends His Choice
In response to the criticism, Tengku Zafrul took to social media again to explain that he had, in fact, seen a halal certificate displayed at the restaurant at the time of his visit in May.
“When I went to the restaurant, I saw the halal certificate and even shared a picture of it on my social media post,” he said, adding that it didn’t occur to him to double-check its status online.
He acknowledged, however, that some people later pointed out the certificate had been revoked — and that the restaurant was no longer listed on the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s (JAKIM) halal database.
“Let’s continue to remind each other,” he added.
Restaurant Owner Responds: “We Didn’t Hide Anything”
Speaking to Guang Ming Daily, the restaurant’s owner clarified that the halal certificate was indeed revoked — but not because of ingredients. Instead, the issue stemmed from their expansion into an adjacent shoplot, which required reapplication.
“After the halal certification was cancelled, we removed the certificate. The claims online that we didn’t display it while certified aren’t true; it was always displayed inside the restaurant until it was revoked,” the owner stated.
He added that even after the certification was withdrawn, many Muslim customers continued to dine there, fully aware of the situation.
“We didn’t hide anything; it was just a temporary loss of official recognition. Many loyal customers understood and continued to trust us.”
The restaurant reportedly plans to reapply for its halal certification soon.
A Minister’s Oversight — Or Public Overreaction?
While some netizens say Tengku Zafrul should have been more vigilant as a public figure — especially when it comes to halal matters — others argue that the criticism has been blown out of proportion.
After all, if a certificate is displayed, how many diners truly take the time to verify it online?
But for a government minister, does the bar sit higher?
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