By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 23: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has moved to cool tensions over the recent pork-related controversy, saying the issue has been wrongly framed and unnecessarily escalated into a racial and religious debate.
Commenting on recent criticism directed at Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Willie Mongin following his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat, Abdul Karim said the controversy did not actually stem from non-Muslims eating pork, but from issues surrounding pig farming and settlement concerns in Selangor.
“I listened to YB Datuk Willie Mongin’s parliamentary debate and also followed the discussions on social media. From what I understand, the issue that drew attention including comments from the Sultan of Selangor, was about pig farming, not about whether people can eat pork or not,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the matter during a press conference held at Baitul Makmur 2 building here today.
Abdul Karim, who is the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, stressed that pork consumption has never been an issue in Malaysia, particularly in a multicultural society like Sarawak, where different communities have long respected each other’s customs and dietary practices.
“From what I gather, there has been no issue at all about non-Muslims eating pork. Muslims have never stopped Dayaks, Chinese or anyone else from eating what they choose. If you feel like eating it, that’s your food — you eat,” he added.
Nevertheless, he cautioned against the use of derogatory language when referring to animals or food, saying such remarks go against the principle of respecting God’s creation.
“Pigs are also God’s creatures. Some people can eat them, some cannot, but it must not go to the extent of calling the animal ‘keji’ (lowly). The moment you say an animal is lowly, that is wrong — it means you are going against the Almighty,” he pointed out.
Abdul Karim also noted that comparing foods and labelling them as “dirty” and “smelly”, such as linking pork to fermented foods like budu (fermented fish sauce) or belacan, only fuels unnecessary backlash and misunderstandings.
“Of course those who eat such food will feel offended and react. That is where the mistake lies,” he said.
He further warned against linking food consumption to moral issues such as corruption, describing such associations as completely unfounded.
“Corruption exists everywhere — among Malays, Chinese, Dayaks — it happens across all races. You cannot say those who eat pork are less corrupt or those who don’t eat pork are more corrupt. That has no relation at all,” he stressed.
He urged all parties not to sensationalise sensitive issues or turn them into racial narratives.
“My hope is that matters like this do not need to be blown up or linked to race, religion or corruption. If you want to eat pork, that’s up to you. That is how we should approach this issue,” he emphasised.
The controversy comes amid concerns over pig farming and settlement issues in Selangor, which recently drew attention from the Sultan of Selangor and the public. The matter, linked to environmental and zoning challenges, was mistakenly conflated with non-Muslims’ dietary choices, prompting heated discussions on social media.
On Jan 21, Willie in the Dewan Rakyat, expressed that he was concerned by social media comments that demean certain foods, particularly pork, which is commonly consumed by the Dayak community. – DayakDaily
