Malaysian oil manufacturer rebuffs non-halal claims

Published on May 15, 2025 at 09:18
3 min read
By Raevathi SUPRAMANIAM, AFP Malaysia

Social media users have targeted a Malaysian cooking oil brand by sharing an image of a packet without a halal certification logo and claiming it is non-halal. The manufacturer said it did not print the logo because it was pending government approval, which has since been granted and is valid until 2027.

"Kanggaru brand cooking oil does not have halal certification, take note," reads a Malay-language Facebook post published April 21, 2025.

The post shares a screenshot of a photo showing a bag of Kanggaru cooking oil and text warning the public not to purchase it as it lacks halal status.

The superimposed text claims a supervisor at a grocery store asked its staff to sell the oil, despite knowing it was not halal.

"This is the behaviour of the Chinese," the post says.

Screenshot of the false post taken May 7, 2025

More than half of Malaysia's 34 million population are Muslims, who are required to observe halal dietary standards prohibiting foods such as pork (archived link here and here).

Concern over halal certification has frequently sparked debate in the country -- often with accusations levelled against non-Muslim companies. AFP has debunked similar claims targeting another cooking oil brand, sausages, drinks manufacturers and international coffee chain Starbucks.

The claim about Kanggaru-brand cooking oil surfaced elsewhere on Facebook, including in a group with more than 77,000 followers.

However, keyword searches found the company that produces the oil has rebuffed the claims.

In a statement shared April 22 on Facebook, Mico Trading Co said the halal logo was not printed on the bags because it was waiting for approval from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) (archived link).

The company said it applied for the certification on March 6, 2024. After it received halal status on April 14, 2025, bags bearing the halal logo were printed.

"We would like to emphasize that the raw ingredients used in the manufacturing of the oil is sourced from halal parties," the statement says. "We are committed in ensuring the cleanliness, quality and halal compliance in our premises."

AFP verified the statement's authenticity with the company's owner during a May 15 phone call.

A database from the government agency Halal Malaysia shows Mico Trading Co's halal certification is valid until April 2027 (archived links here and here).

Screenshot of Mico Trading Co's valid halal certification from Halal Malaysia taken on May 8, 2025

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