Malaysia gives thumbs up to halal Christmas greetings on cakes, reversing 3-year ban: ‘this is not haram’

The new rule from the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia overturns an earlier ban on the display of food with non-Muslim festive greetings

Calling the earlier ban ‘stupid’, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Tun Openg weighed in by saying Christmas messages on cakes were not forbidden in Islam

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Cup cakes decorated with Christmas greetings. A previous directive had prevented bakeries in Malaysia with halal certificates from putting food items with festive greetings on display. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 9:38am, 19 Dec 2023Updated: 8:17pm, 20 Dec 2023

Bakeries in Malaysia with halal certificates can now write and display any festive greeting on their cakes or confectionery, in a reversal of a 2020 directive.

The new rule from the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) overturns an earlier ban on the public display of food items with festive greetings of non-Muslim faiths.

Jakim on Monday said there was no longer any restriction on businesses that have halal certification from writing any festive greetings on cakes or similar foods.

Shoppers take photos next to a decorative Christmas display at a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. Photo: AFP

“Jakim will review and re-evaluate any related matters in the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual,” said the corporate communications section of Jakim’s halal management division in a statement.

“With this explanation, Jakim’s previous statement in 2020 is no longer applicable.”

In December 2020, it was reported that former Jakim deputy director general (operations) Abdul Aziz Jusoh had said that halal-certified shops were only allowed to put festive greetings on products that weren’t on public display.

The Jakim directive was cited by a local bakery chain when it refused customers’ requests to write Christmas greetings, with the owners saying they feared losing their halal certification if they did not comply.

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